With a thrilling victory over South Africa, Australia has secured their place in the final match of the Cricket World Cup against India, where they stand a chance to clinch a record sixth men’s Cricket World Cup title.

Australia’s Dominant Start

Australia’s new-ball bowlers made a strong start in Kolkata, tearing through South Africa’s top order after the Proteas chose to bat first under cloudy skies. However, a stunning century from David Miller allowed South Africa to post a total of 212, setting a challenging target for Australia in the second innings.

Australia’s Chase

Needing 213 to win, Australia began their chase aggressively. Travis Head and David Warner launched an attack during the opening powerplay, but South Africa’s spinners managed to shift the momentum back in their favour by taking crucial wickets.

South Africa’s Fightback

The match reached a nail-biting climax as South Africa threw everything they had at Australia’s tail-enders, hoping to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Gerald Coetzee were the standout bowlers for the Proteas.

Australia’s Winning Moment

However, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins held their nerve, securing victory for Australia with three wickets and 16 balls to spare.

South Africa’s Batting Struggles

Earlier in the match, South Africa’s top order struggled against Australia’s bowlers after choosing to bat first. The Proteas found runs hard to come by, losing early wickets to Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. A rain delay offered South Africa a chance to regroup, and they managed to rebuild their innings, thanks to a solid partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Miller.

Semi-final 2: Australia Triumphs Over South Africa by 3 Wickets

Travis Head and David Warner gave Australia a flying start, but South Africa’s spinners managed to keep the game alive. Aiden Markram provided the initial breakthrough for South Africa, dismissing Warner for 29. However, a quick half-century from Head kept Australia ahead of the game.

South Africa’s Spinners Apply Pressure

The match seemed to be heading towards a predictable conclusion until South Africa’s spinners applied pressure in the middle overs. Maharaj and Shamsi took crucial wickets to give South Africa a glimmer of hope.

Australia’s Patient Approach

Australia managed to regain control of the match, with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis building a steady partnership. However, Smith’s patience ran out, and he was dismissed for 30. Despite this, Australia’s tail-enders managed to finish the job with the bat, securing their place in the final.

Miller’s Heroics Guide South Africa to 212

After South Africa chose to bat first, Mitchell Starc struck early, dismissing South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, for a duck. Despite the early setbacks, David Miller’s aggressive batting helped South Africa post a competitive total. However, it was not enough to prevent another semi-final disappointment for the Proteas.

Playing XIs

South Africa:

Quinton de Kock(wk), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Australia:

Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.