To meet India in final: ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023

Australia laboured to a hard fought three wickets win over South Africa while chasing a under-par score of 213 in the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 at the sprawling Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday. The five-time former champions Aussies who now have remained unbeaten in their last eight matches will next take on host India in the grand finale to be held at gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday 19th November, 2023.

The difference between the two sides were the approach in the opening power play, wherein the Australian were off to a flier largely due to the brisk start provided openers Travis Head (62) and David Warner  who put on 60 for the first wicket by the sixth, before ending up at 74 for 2 by the 10th. Spinner Aiden Markram provided the first break through by castling David Warner (29) with the first ball of his spell in the very next over and pacer Kagiso Rabada saw the back of the dangerous Mitchell Marsh for a rare duck in the eighth. On the other hand electing to bat first, South Africa who had beaten their rivals four times in a row in the 50 over format of the game by a margin of over 100 runs, including their round robin league encounter (a 134-run victory in Lucknow), were once again found to be wanting in the knock-out stage that was played under overcast sky and lost both their openers including the in-form Quinton de Kock (3) who registered four centuries earlier in the tourney, ended up at 18 for 2 by the 10th. The Temba Bavuma led side soon slipped to 24 for 4 in the 12th over, against the relentless accurate pace bowling attack of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood who took three wickets each.

The middle over battle were more or less even on the other hand, that saw Australia slum to 137 for 5 and then 193 for 7 against the restrictive spin attack of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi who bowled well in tandem while taking wickets at regular interval which included the prize wickets of all-rounder Head (62) whose 48-ball innings was laced with nine fours and two sixes and the aggressive Glenn Maxwell (0). Pacer Gerald Coetzee too followed it up with the wickets of former Australian slipper Steven Smith (30) and wicket keeper Josh Inglis (28) to provide the Proteas a glimpse of hope of making it to their maiden final in five outings.

On the other hand South staged a brief recovery during the similar phase through David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen (47) who added 95 runs for the fifth wicket in quick time, before they too lost six wickets by the 31st over.  

The left-handed David Miller who found an able ally in Gerald Coetzee (19), as the duo put on a 53-run partnership for the seventh wicket, however rued the decision for not supporting his partner for a DRS review against a caught behind decision against pacer Pat Cummins short pitch ball in the 44th over of the innings with 172 runs on the board as the Ultra edge clearly showed the ball had brushed Gerald shoulder and not his glove against pacer Pat Cummins short pitch ball in the 44th over of the innings with 172 runs on the board.  David (101) though went on to score his second world cup century and sixth overall that was laced with eight fours and five sixes in his 116-ball knock before becoming the ninth batsman to be dismissed and Pat’s second of the day. South Africa were ultimately bowled out for 213 in the final over of their innings.

Australian skipper Pat (14 n.o.) who joined Mitchell Starc (16 n.o.) after the dismissal of Josh in the 40th over weathered the South African bowling to steer the team home under immense pressure, to ensure his teams eighth entry to the World Cup final. The hard fought win however was the narrowest in terms of wickets by any country in a World Cup semi-final.

Brief Scores (Semi-final 2): South Africa - 213 all-out in 49.4 overs (David Miller 101 (116b: 8x4s, 5x6s), Heinrich Klaasen 47(48b: 4x4s, 2x6s), Gerald Coetzee 19 (39b: 2x4s); Mitchell Starc 3/34, Pat Cummins 3/51, Josh Halewood 2/12, Travis Head 2/21) lost to Australia - 215 for 7 in 47.2 overs (Travis Head 62 (48b: 9x4s, 2x6s), Steven Smith 30 (62b: 2x4s), David Warner 29 (18b: 1x4s, 4x6s), Josh Inglis 28 (49b:3x4s); Tabraiz Shamsi 2/42, Gerald Coetzee 2/47, Aiden Markram 1/23, Keshav Maharaj 1/24, Aiden Markram 1/23, Kagiso Rabada 1/41) by 3 wickets and 16 balls to spare. Player of the Match:  Travis Head (Australia).

Photo Above: Australian skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Mitchell Starc held their nerves in their team three wicket win over South Africa en-route their eighth Cricket World Cup final (Photo courtesy The-ICC