What an intense game! Truly befitting of a semi-final, without a doubt! Unfortunately, it concludes with heartbreak for South Africa, maintaining their less-than-stellar record in World Cup knockouts.
Meanwhile, the formidable Australian team continues their march to the final, securing their 8th consecutive win in the competition. This game had all the excitement, with its thrills and spills.
Although the scorecard might not immediately reveal the intensity, the match was a nail-biter in every aspect. South Africa displayed commendable efforts, fighting hard and valiantly, but it proved insufficient to surpass Australia.
Despite the fact that South Africa managed to take the game deep with just 212 runs on the board, they can’t escape the reality that their total was at least 20-30 runs short on this pitch.
Head and Warner initiated a strong start for Australia, a crucial factor that might have made all the difference. Markram broke the partnership, and Maharaj dismissed the dangerous Head, bringing South Africa back into the game. The momentum has swung between the two sides since then.
Shamsi and Maharaj capitalized on an extensive turn, causing Labuschagne and Maxwell to fall rapidly, leaving Australia at 119/5.
Travis Head was declared player of the match for helping his team win the match by 3 wickets.
Earlier, South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the World Cup semi-final clash at the iconic Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Australia’s target in the current game is 213, reminiscent of the 1999 World Cup semi, where Australia also scored 213. The 1999 match is well-remembered, and if this current game is even half as thrilling, it promises to be an exciting spectacle. South Africa, choosing to bat first, faced unexpected conditions with English Test-match weather, cloudy and ideal for a certain James Anderson. Exploiting the situation, Starc and Hazlewood quickly reduced South Africa to 24/4, resembling the 2007 semi-final scenario.
However, Miller and Klaasen steadied the ship with a 95-run partnership, aided by a rain break. Just as momentum shifted, Cummins intervened in his first over, taking two wickets in two balls. Miller played a remarkable innings, specially targeting Zampa with five sixes.
The question lingers if 213 will be sufficient, but South Africa, buoyed by potential assistance under lights and ample spin, anticipates a challenging chase. The stage is set for another exciting match. Keep in mind that if the current game ends in a tie, the scenario differs from 1999. In that instance, Australia advanced to the final based on a higher Super Six table finish than South Africa, owing to a superior net run rate.
