In a gripping semi-final clash at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia secured a victory against South Africa by three wickets, setting up a grand finale against India.
Also read: Proteas off to a shaky start in Cricket World Cup semi-final
As per SA Cricket Mag, South Africa’s decision to bat first didn’t pan out as expected. The Proteas were reeling at 22/4 after a powerful pace attack by Australia, spearheaded by Starc and Hazlewood.
David Miller’s century, a first at number six in World Cup knockout history, was the highlight of South Africa’s innings. Despite his efforts and a partnership with Klaasen, the Proteas were eventually bowled out for 212.
Travis Head’s double strike in his opening over was a crucial moment, shifting the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour.
Chasing 213, Australia started aggressively. Warner and Head provided a rapid start, but South Africa’s introduction of spin, particularly through Shami and Maharaj, brought them back into the game. The South African spinners turned the ball square, creating multiple chances.
Despite losing key wickets, including Smith and Maxwell, Australia inched closer to the target. The match reached a tense climax as Cummins and Starc, the unlikely heroes with the bat, steered Australia to victory in a nail-biting finish.
The Proteas’ captain, Temba Bavuma, commented:
‘Quite hard to put into words. First, congratulations to Australia. They were outstanding for a large part today and deserve the victory. Our character came through, as did the resilience that we speak about. Looking at the result, the way we started with the bat and ball was where we lost it. We had to play catch-up to get into the game. Hazlewood and Starc put us under a lot of pressure. When you’re 4 for 24, you will always struggle to put on a good score. We were gaining momentum with Miller and Klaasen; we’ve seen how destructive they can be, but Miller was superb. He captured the character of the team, and it speaks a lot to the player—not just his talent but his mental capacity. We felt it was competitive and would have liked to start better. They got over 70 in the first 10 overs to remove the scoreboard pressure. Shamsi was terrific in the conditions to put the guys under pressure. We had chances – tough chances that we put down and half chances bouncing in front of us.’
Australia’s win sets up an exciting final against India. Despite some middle-order wobbles, their ability to chase down the target highlights their resilience and depth.
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Picture: @ProteasMenCSA / X