AUS beat SA by 3 wickets ,enter in to final
Delhi: On Thursday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Australia secured a three-wicket victory over South Africa in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. Pat Cummins and his team will now face India in the final. In pursuit of 213 runs, Australia successfully reached 215/7 in 47.2 overs in a highly strategic match. Travis Head played a crucial role, scoring a half-century with 62 runs off 48 balls. Additionally, Steve Smith (30), David Warner (29), and Josh Inglis (28) made significant contributions for Australia. South Africa’s bowling duo, Tabraiz Shamsi and Gerald Coetzee, each claimed two wickets in this closely contested encounter.
In the earlier stages, David Miller played a pivotal role by scoring 101 runs off 116 balls, almost single-handedly guiding South Africa to a total of 212. Australia applied intense pressure in the initial 20 overs, dismissing the top four South African batsmen within the first 12 overs. Opting to bat first after Temba Bavuma won the toss, Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood maintained relentless accuracy in their deliveries, while the Australian fielders displayed exceptional agility, preventing almost every scoring opportunity. Consequently, South Africa struggled to accumulate only 22 runs in the initial 11 overs, losing three wickets, including key player Quinton de Kock. The situation worsened as Hazlewood dismissed Rassie van der Dussen in the 12th over, bringing South Africa’s finishers, Heinrich Klaasen and Miller, to the crease early in the innings.
Australia will be bidding to win the 50-over World Cup for a record-extending sixth time, while host nation India is seeking a third title.
The championship match is in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
South Africa has never won a semifinal match at the World Cup in five attempts.
