Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia beat South Africa by three wickets to enter World Cup final

Mitchell Starc and skipper Pat Cummins stayed calm to take Australia into the final after defeating South Africa in a nail-biting semi-finals at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. The loss extended South Africa’s barren run in the World Cup, which began in 1992 in Australia. The five-time champions win by three wickets with plenty of overs to spare to book a meeting with hosts India in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. It will be a repeat of the opening clash of both the teams, who opened their campaign in Chennai on October 8. One will have to feel for the Proteas, who were unstoppable in the league stage and gave everything in the semi-finals in Kolkata, where they played their first match against India when they returned to the international fold in 1991. The loss of four early wickets, including that of South Africa’s top-scorer Quinton de Kock, to a brilliant spell of fast bowling from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood pushed them deep in trouble. Only a brilliant century from David Miller gave them a score of respectablity, taking them to 212 in 49.4 overs, but that was not enough to beat the Australians. Starc and Cummins put on an unbroken 22-run partnership for the eighth wicket to take the Australians to their eighth World Cup final.

Coetzee strikes again: The young South African pacer has been bowling his heart out with impressive pace. Coetzee has been mixing his length impressively to catch the Australian batters on the wrong foot. After surprising Smith, Coetzee bowled a yorker length delivery to dismiss the set batter Inglis to expose the Australian tail, who are 195 for seven, needing another 18 runs.

Smith’s uncanny dismissal: The former Australian skipper, in a rare rush of blood, went for a big shot through the straight field only to sky it straight for de Kock to complete the catch. Coetzee, who has been unlucky not to get any wicket earlier, has given the much-needed opening for South Africa. Inglis needs to stay till the end to take Australia home. Joining him is Mitchell Starc, who will not hesitate to play the big shot and has the capacity. After 35 overs, Australia are 177 for six, needing another 36 off 90 balls.

Vital partnership: Smith has been the steadying hand for Australia. The ace batter has maintained his cool when the wickets are falling around him. Smith and Josh Inglis have ensured that there are no more wickets for the South African bowlers, playing a calculated and composed innings. The duo have added 37 runs for the sixth wicket to take Australia to 174 for five, needing just another 39 runs in 17 overs. The spinners, Maharaj and Shamsi have just one and two overs left and the pacers are operating now.

Match swings again: Two wickets have brought South Africa back into the game. Another rash stroke, an untimely reverse sweep, ended Labuschagne’s innings when the Australians were trying to regain control of the chase. Maxwell, who was living dangerously on a wicket that is consistently becoming difficult to bat as the ball is turning square, was out trying to play one shot too many. Shamsi getting both the wickets. Australia are 140 for five in 24 overs, needing another 73 runs.

Maharaj ends Head’s stay: Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj ended Head’s threatening knock, who was living dangerously with a couple of dropped chances going his way. But Maharaj’s flighted delivery outside the off-stump sneaked thorugh the gate to dislodge the middle and off stump. A perfect ball for a spinner. With left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi operating from the other end, South Africa must be sensing that it is the best chance to stop Australia. Marnus Labuschagne survived a close call, still the lack of runs on board will come to hurt them soon as Australia, who are 114 for three, just need 99 runs from 34 overs.

Head reaches half-century: Travis Head continues to go on the offensive and taking advantage of a dropped chance, he even added more salt to the bowler Coetzee by hitting three fours in the 12th over to reach his half-century. His knock came off 40 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Steve Smith is slowly getting into the groove and the pair has taken Australia to 98 for two at the end of the 13th over with Head on 55 and Smith on 7. The five-time champions still need 115 runs in 37 overs.

Markram breaks stand: On a spinning track, Aiden Markram got Warner bowled off the first ball he bowled, to halt Australia’s march. The wicket has brought the belief back in the South African ranks. Rabada strikes in the next over with van der Dussen pulling off a sharp chance to end the miser of Mitch Marsh, who was out for a six-ball duck to reduce Australia to 61 for two in 8 overs.

Brisk start for Australia: Australian openers David Warner and Travis Head are not giving even an inch for South Africa to comeback into the contest. The openers have gone after the newball bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Though the bowlers troubled the Australian openers on odd occasions, but both Warner and Head are in a punishing mood to 60 for no loss in six overs.

A timely knock: Miller’s battling century gave South AFrican bowlers a decent total to defend on a pitch that is assisting the spinners more than the pacers. Miller’s 101 came off 116 balls that included five sixes and eight fours. He was well supported by Coetzee (19) and Kagiso Rabada (10) to take South Africa to 212 in 49.4 overs. Cummins finished with three wickets, while Starc, Hazlewood and Head claimed two wickets each.

Miller wages a lone battle: The left-hander has continued to lead South Africa’s charge in the company of Gerald Coetzee and take his team past the 150-run mark. Miller is batting on 66, while Coetzee has scored 17 valuable runs and they have added 35 runs for the seventh wicket. After 39 overs, South Africa are 154 for six. The spinners are getting plenty of purchase on this pitch, which should give a lot of hope to Keshav Maharaj and Tabariz Shamsi.

Head breaks partnership: Australian off-spinner Travis Head, who was brought in more in a desperate move by Cummins, has struck in his first over to break the threatening partnership, dismissing Klaasen by dislodging his stumps for 47. Head followed it up by getting Marco Jansen leg-before in the next delivery to push South Africa in trouble again. The Proteas are 119 for six in 31 overs.

Miller-Klaasen lead fightback: David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen have started playing positively after returning from the rain-induced break. The duo have taken the Proteas to 100 for four in 28 overs. The pitch has also eased a bit, which has helped Miller and Klaasen to play their shots freely. They have been severe on Adam Zampa and skipper Cummins, both conceding most of the runs after the break. Miller is batting on 40, while the right-hander is unbeaten on 36.

Rain holds up play: Rain showers gave South African batters some respite from the heat that they faced from the Australian bowlers. After 14 overs, South Africa are 44 for 4 with Henrich Klasen and David Miller at the crease with 10 runs each.

Australia tightening the grip: The Australian openeing bowlers Starc and Josh Hazlewood held the batters in a spot and Cummins continued with them unchanged for 13 overs. Starc has figures of 2-18 in seven overs and Hazlewood 2-12 in six overs.

The prized wicket: Quinto de Kock has been the backbone of South Africa in this World Cup. With four centuries under his belt and being the second highest run-scorer in the showpiece, his long innings would have given the Proteas the big score. That was not to be as the left-hander was dismissed for three, Australian skipper Pat Cummins pulling off a brilliant catch running after behind.

Starc strikes early: Five-time world champions Australia came out all guns blazing, determined not to give South African batters the required freedom to score freely. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc struck in the first over dismissing skipper Bavuma for duck.

Winning start: South African captain Temba Bavuma won the crucial toss and didn’t hesitate to bat first. Despite being a rain-affected wicket, South Africa’s issues with chasing a target must have played a big part in the decision to bat on a drying wicket under overcast conditions.