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South Africa vs Australia, World Cup 2023 Semi-Final Toss: South Africa win the toss, and skipper Temba Bavuma opts to bat. Both teams make changeups to their lineups — South Africa bringing in Tabraiz Shamsi for Lungi Ngidi and Australia replacing Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc. South Africa vs Australia LIVE Score, World Cup 2023 Semi-final: South Africa face Australia in the second semi-final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the winner of the match will face India in the final on 19 November. The second semi-final on 16 November, Thursday, will take place at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India reached the final with a 70-run win over New Zealand in the first semi-final which was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. There’s a chance that rain could play spoilsport in the game today in Kolkata as there’s a 43% percent chance of rain. Also, overcast conditions are expected throughout the day. The semi-finals have reserve day so the match could also get completed tomorrow but rain is predicted on Friday also. In case the match gets washed out then South Africa will reach the final as they finished ahead of Australia in the points table. In case the game takes place, we can expect a thrilling contest as with Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, David Warner, and Travis Head, the contest will feature some of the best attacking batters. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is doubtful for the crucial clash due to a hamstring issue but is expected to play. “I feel alright. It’s obviously not 100%, so this day becomes important. I’m quite confident, but it’s not a unilateral decision,” Bavuma said. Australia captain Pat Cummins, meanwhile, has shot down any comparisons of the upcoming match with the 1999 classic. “No, not really. None of our players were playing. So you probably can’t draw too many conclusions from that team. But it’s part of Australian cricket folklore and history,” Cummins said. South Africa vs Australia Lineups: 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(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa vs Australia Semi-final Highlights: Aussies through to eighth final after thrilling victory over Proteas
SA vs AUS Semi-final LIVE: AUS 215/7; Australia skipper Pat Cummins hits the winning boundary off Marco Jansen as the five-time champions chase the modest 213-run target down with 16 balls to spare.
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That brings us to the end of the second semi-final of the 2023 ICC World Cup, and the tournament has boiled down to just one more match — where Australia face hosts India at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday!
For now this is Amit signing off, bidding you all a good night!
South Africa can hold their heads high for their fight back in both innings. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen helped the Proteas go past 200 from 24/4 to give their bowlers some cushion for 10 wickets. The match appeared as good as over when Travis Head and David Warner smashed 60 runs in the first six overs, but the Proteas, powered by the heroics of of the spin trio as well as Gerald Coetzee later in the innings, managed to make a game out of it.
Full credit to Australia, however, for dominating both powerplays, which was the foundation of their victory today. As well as to Josh Inglis for absorbing pressure and getting the Aussies within touching distance of the target, from where Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc could simply finish the job in singles.
The Proteas, however, will have to deal with that dreaded ‘c-word’ again as they fly back home, haven fallen short yet again in the semi-finals while the Aussies once again highlight their big-match mentality. And what a stunning comeback this has been from Cummins and Co to enter the final after starting their campaign with back-to-back defeats, including against South Africa in Lucknow.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
Travis Head is the Player of the Match for his 48-ball 62 as well as for collecting two handy wickets with his part-time off-spin earlier in the day.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 47.2 overs,Australia 215/7 ( Mitchell Starc 16 , Pat Cummins (C) 14)
FOUR! Skipper Pat Cummins finishes off in style with a boundary off Marco Jansen, as Australia pull off a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa to enter the World Cup final for a whopping eighth time! Was a short, wide delivery from Jansen and Cummins had little trouble picking the gap on the on side, the ball scurrying away to the point boundary.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 47 overs,Australia 211/7 ( Mitchell Starc 16 , Pat Cummins (C) 10)
Just one conceded by Markram in the 47th over, leaving Australia needing two more to win with three overs in hand. Starc went for a wild heave in the final delivery and missed it completely.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Australia are one hit away from entering the final! Starc drives a full delivery from Jansen, threading the gap on the leg side and the ball rolls away to the unguarded fence! South African hearts will sink even lower after that shot! AUS 210/7; need 3 to win off 26
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 45 overs,Australia 206/7 ( Mitchell Starc 12 , Pat Cummins (C) 9)
DROPPED! Another chance put down by de Kock, and this might cost South Africa the World Cup! Thick inside edge off Cummins’ bat as he was shaping for a drive, and de Kock failed to react quickly enough to pouch the ball. The South Africans are on their haunches! Cummins and Starc collect a single each to bring the equation down to seven off 30.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 44 overs,Australia 204/7 ( Mitchell Starc 11 , Pat Cummins (C) 8)
Cummins nearly perishes in Markram’s sixth over! Chips the ball towards midwicket, where the ball lands just short of a diving Miller, nearly giving the part-time offie his second wicket of the day. Just three collected in the last two overs, with Coetzee conceding just a single in his penultimate over. Australia have six overs left to collect the remaining nine runs, though they have just three wickets in hand.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 42 overs,Australia 201/7 ( Mitchell Starc 11 , Pat Cummins (C) 6)
Markram returns after Maharaj bowls out his quota, and both Starc and new batter Pat Cummins decide to negotiate him carefully, collecting a single each. Coetzee continues from the other end and bowls a snorter at Cummins measuring 150 clicks that breaks the Australian skipper’s bat and forces a change of gear. Coetzee’s a bit wayward thereafter, conceding a boundary to Cummins before bowling a waist-high no-ball as Australia go past the 200-barrier!
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! A massive boundary from Australia’s perspective and South African hearts will sink just a little after that! Full and wide from Coetzee, and Cummins steers this behind point for a crucial boundary! AUS 199/7; need 14 to win
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 40 overs,Australia 193/7 ( Mitchell Starc 10 , Pat Cummins (C) 0)
BOWLED! Don’t count the South Africans out just yet! The set Josh Inglis, who was expected to steer his side home from here, ends up chopping a slower ball onto the stumps to depart for 28! With that, Coetzee takes his tally in his debut World Cup to 20! Three from the over along with the wicket, with Australia needing 20 more to win with three wickets in hand
Inglis b Coetzee 28(49)
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 38 overs,Australia 188/6 ( Josh Inglis (W) 27 , Mitchell Starc 6)
Inglis and Starc manage to see off the Shamsi threat as the left-arm wrist spinner signs off with 2/42, conceding a brace off his final delivery of the day. Starc gets a streaky boundary off Coetzee’s bowling in the following over that flies through the vacant slip cordon and runs all the way to third man. Coetzee nearly pulls off a stunning catch off his own bowling in the final ball of the over after Starc chips the ball down the ground. Was too tough a chance in the end. Australia need 25 more to win with four wickets in hand.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Edged… and the ball through the vacant slip cordon! It rolls all the way to the third man fence where a diving Jansen is unable to stop the ball. Agonising stuff for the Proteas, especially since they’re bowling their hearts out at the moment. AUS 188/6; need 25 off 76
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 36 overs,Australia 182/6 ( Josh Inglis (W) 25 , Mitchell Starc 2)
Bavuma brings Shamsi back for his penultimate over to try and prise out Starc’s wicket. Starc and Inglis collect a single each, leaving Shamsi with six more balls to try and collect another wicket or two. Inglis greatly reduces the pressure on him and Starc with a boundary off Coetzee in the following over, in which five are added to the Aussie total.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Inglis is playing a gem of a knock here! Full delivery from Coetzee from around the wicket, and Inglis goes for the cover drive, threading the gap perfectly. A little over 30 needed now for the Aussies! AUS 181/6
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
STAT ALERT: Quinton de Kock becomes the first wicketkeeper in World Cup history to score 500 runs and effect 20 dismissals!
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 34 overs,Australia 175/6 ( Josh Inglis (W) 19 , Mitchell Starc 1)
The Proteas go back to seam from both ends, with Rabada and Coetzee bowling in tandem now. Rabada gives away just two singles while Coetzee breaks the steady sixth-wicket stand by getting rid of Smith and reviving the Proteas’ hopes. Mitchell Starc walks in next, and now it’s down to Inglis to guide his team home from here along with the remainder of the batting order.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
OUT! Bavuma’s decision to bring Coetzee in pays off as Steve Smith departs after getting a thick bottom edge that sends the ball high up in the night sky. And an excellent catch by Quinton de Kock settling under the ball, which had almost disappeared in the black sky. Drinks brought to the field after the wicket that will no doubt have breathed life into the Proteas’ hopes. AUS 174/6
Smith c de Kock b Coetzee 30(62)
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 32 overs,Australia 172/5 ( Steven Smith 29 , Josh Inglis (W) 18)
Three singles conceded by Maharaj in his penultimate over, with Smith and Inglis more than happy to collect singles off spin to keep the scoreboard ticking. Coetzee concedes seven in the following over including a boundary to Smith off an outside edge, which sends the ball flying through the vacant slip cordon and all the way to the third man fence. Australia need just 41 more to win, and they have enough overs in hand to do it in singles. South Africa will need a couple of wickets in quick succession if they are to stay in the contest! This has been an excellent partnership so far, worth 35 for the sixth wicket.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Edged… and safe! A thick outside edge off Smith’s bat results in the ball going through the vacant slip cordon and all the way to the unguarded third man fence. AUS 172/5
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 30 overs,Australia 162/5 ( Steven Smith 22 , Josh Inglis (W) 16)
Inglis nearly is run out at the striker’s end after taking several steps forward before being asked by Smith to turn around. He managed to make his ground with a desperate dive. A run-out is the last thing the Aussies would want at this crucial stage. Tidy eighth over from Maharaj with just a single coming off it. Bavuma decides to bring Coetzee back from the other end, giving Shamsi a break after a superb spell. Inglis collects a second boundary for himself with a ramp over slip in the penultimate delivery of the over. After 30 overs, it’s still Australia’s game to lose, but another wicket or two can make things real interesting from here.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Streaky boundary for Inglis off Coetzee as he uppercuts a short delivery over the leaping slip fielder, with the ball running away to the third man fence. AUS 162/5
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 28 overs,Australia 155/5 ( Steven Smith 21 , Josh Inglis (W) 11)
FOUR! A pressure-releasing shot from Inglis, who gets on the backfoot and punches the short-of-length ball through extra cover to bring up the 150 for Australia with his first boundary of the evening.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 27 overs,Australia 150/5 ( Steven Smith 21 , Josh Inglis (W) 6)
Bavuma continues with Shamsi and Maharaj, who have bowled seven overs each at this point. Smith and Inglis continue to keep the scoreboard ticking through singles, with Australia not having collected a boundary for six overs now. South Africa will desperately be looking for another wicket, especially that of Smith.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 25 overs,Australia 141/5 ( Steven Smith 17 , Josh Inglis (W) 2)
Australia suddenly find themselves at 137/5 at the halfway mark of their chase after Shamsi strikes twice in as many overs! And the crowd at Eden absolutely erupts after Maxwell’s dismissal — they’ve made it clear whose side they are on tonight. Josh Inglis joins Steve Smith at the centre with the latter now tasked with the responsibility of steering his side home from here. For the Proteas, wickets are the only way they can end on the winning side tonight, given the Aussies have enough overs in the bank.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
BOWLED! Shammo’s bowled the Proteas right back into the game! And it’s Glenn Maxwell who gets the marching order in what is a massive moment for the South Africa! Maxwell looks to heave the ball towards the leg side and the ball slides under his bat and knocks the leg stump over! AUS 137/5
Maxwell b Shamsi 1(5)
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 22 overs,Australia 133/4 ( Steven Smith 13 , Glenn Maxwell 0)
Labuschagne collects a second boundary in as many overs, this time sweeping firmly in front of square in Maharaj’s fourth over. His stay at the crease, however, comes to an end in the following over as Shamsi finally gets the umpire to raise his finger following another massive LBW appeal. Labuschagne tries reviewing, but in vain, and departs for 18 as Australia lose their fourth wicket. Three runs and a wicket off Shamsi’s fifth over.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
OUT! Second LBW appeal from Shamsi against Labuschagne, and this time the umpire raises his finger! Labuschagne, who missed the ball while attempting a reverse sweep, takes this upstairs, and gets the marching orders after the ball is found to be ‘Umpire’s Call’. AUS 133/4
Labuschagne LBW Shamsi 18(31)
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Labuschagne gets down on one knee and sweeps the ball firmly towards the midwicket fence to collect his second boundary! AUS 130/3
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 20 overs,Australia 124/3 ( Steven Smith 11 , Marnus Labuschagne 13)
Bavuma now brings himself at silly point in a bid to add some pressure on Smith and Labuschagne. And the Eden crowd sure approves of this attacking move from the Proteas skipper. Just a single off Maharaj’s third over. The Proteas spinners, meanwhile, are getting an average turn of 4.1 degrees, which is considerably more than what the Aussies had managed earlier today. FOUR! Loopy delivery from Shamsi outside off, and Labuschagne drives this through extra cover, beating the diving fielder. A boundary that will no doubt lift some of the pressure’s that’s been building in the last few overs. Five off Shamsi’s fourth over.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 18 overs,Australia 118/3 ( Steven Smith 11 , Marnus Labuschagne 7)
DROPPED! Another tough chance goes begging as de Kock fails to reflect quickly enough to collect the ball after a thick outside edge off Smith’s bat. That’s four chances that have been put down by the Proteas now, though none of them could be described as sitters. Four runs collected in the last two overs.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 16 overs,Australia 114/3 ( Steven Smith 9 , Marnus Labuschagne 5)
It’s spin from both ends now, and South Africa suddenly are back in the game after Maharaj castles Head off his first delivery of the day. Maharaj keeps it tidy in the remainder of his first over, conceding three singles. Shamsi nearly gets Labuschagne trapped LBW in the following over, and it’s the umpire’s initial decision of ‘Not Out’ that saves the batter. The Proteas go for the review and get two reds and one yellow, with impact ‘Umpire’s Call’. Five off Shamsi’s second over. Time for the players to have a drink. Smith and Labuschagne are batting cautiously at the moment, and given they have 34 overs left, they can afford to be a little slow for a bit with Glenn Maxwell to follow.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
BOWLED! Another South African spinner strikes off his first ball of the day as Keshav Maharaj clean Travis Head up, bagging the prized wicket after the opener had been dropped a couple of times. Head’s beaten for turn while looking for a drive, and ends up getting his stumps shattered. The Proteas will be a lot more pumped after that wicket! AUS 106/3
Head b Maharaj 62(48)
After 14 overs,Australia 106/2 ( Travis Head 62 , Steven Smith 8)
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! Head’s dropped for a second time today, this time in Tabraiz Shamsi’s first over! Gets a thick outside edge, and Heinrich Klaasen fails to react quickly enough to collect it. He had started moving to his left, and the ball brushed his fingers before running away towards the third man fence! Eight off Shamsi’s first over of the day, and Australia need another 107 to win in 36 overs.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! First boundary for Steve Smith as he drives a tossed up delivery from Markram through the covers! AUS 97/2
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 12 overs,Australia 92/2 ( Travis Head 54 , Steven Smith 2**)**
Tidy third over from Markram, conceding just three singles. DROPPED! Coetzee nearly gets the prized wicket of Head after the southpaw, batting on 41, slashes a short, wide ball towards sweeper point where the ball pops out of substitute fielder Reeza Hendricks’ palms! Was a tough chance, but you’ve got to grab everything that comes your way, especially if it’s involving a well-set batter. Head makes the Proteas pay for that dropped chance with a hat-trick of boundaries to bring up a 40-ball half-century.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
FOUR! FOUR! FOUR! Travis Head races to a 40-ball half-century with a hat-trick of boundaries in Coetzee’s first over of the evening! The first one’s hit down the ground, and nearly results in a catch for the bowler. Head then smacks the ball in opposite directions, slashing a short, wide delivery towards the backward point fence before pulling a similar-length ball towards deep midwicket. This is Head’s 16th fifty in ODIs and his 2nd fifty-plus score in this World Cup. AUS 91/2
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 10 overs,Australia 74/2 ( Travis Head 38 , Steven Smith 0)
FOUR! Not quite well timed by Head but clears the circle nevertheless for the ball to run all the way to long on. Six off the over, with Rabada conceding a single and a wide in the next two deliveries as Australia reach 74/2 at the end of the powerplay, 56 more than what the Proteas had managed at the same stage and having lost two wickets less.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 9 overs,Australia 68/2 ( Travis Head 33 , Steven Smith 0)
SIX! Head gets down on one knee and goes for a slog-sweep, clearing the backward square leg fence in the process! Collects a single off the next delivery to keep the strike. Seven off Markram’s second.
South Africa vs Australia LIVE
After 8 overs,Australia 61/2 ( Travis Head 26 , Steven Smith 0)
OUT! WHAT A CATCH BY RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN! Bavuma continues with Rabada from the other end, and the move pays off as Marsh departs for a six-ball duck. Went for an aerial drive towards the covers, and van der Dussen leapt to his right to pull off a stunning catch.
Marsh c van der Dussen b Rabada 0(6)