Australia reached the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup finals defeating South Africa in a low-scoring thriller played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 16th November 2023. The match went right down the wire but Australia held onto the nerves to qualify for the 8th finals in World Cup history.
Chasing down a modest total of 213 runs to win, Australian openers Travis Head and David Warner showed intent right from the word go putting pressure on the South African bowlers. Markram was bought into the attack dismissing Warner with a beauty. Warner and Head put on 60 runs in 6.1 overs laying a strong foundation. A superb diving catch by Rassie Van der Dussen ended the innings for Mitchell Marsh without opening his account.
Travis Head looked in attacking touch and survived few anxious moments. Head and Steve Smith steadied the ship keeping the scoreboard ticking. At the end of the first 10 overs, Australia raced away to 74 for 2.
Keshav Maharaj was introduced into the attack and produced a beauty to dismiss Head. Head and Smith added 45 runs for the 3rd wicket. Marnus Labuschagne survived a close LBW shout given not out by the umpire but on review, it remained not out due to the umpire’s call. Shamsi dismissed Labuschagne and Maxwell in quick succession to leave the match in the balance. Steve Smith and Josh Inglis steadied the ship keeping the strike rotating with singles and hitting occasional boundaries.
Coetzee struck to get rid of Steve Smith with a brilliant catch by de Kock. Smith and Inglis added 37 runs for the 6th wicket. Coetzee then got rid of Inglis bowling around the wicket. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins survived few anxious moments before they registered a 3 3-wicket win with 16 balls to spare.
South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to bat first. It was not an ideal start as Temba fell in the first over itself providing simple catch. Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc created trouble for SA batters as gave 18 runs in the first 10 overs picking 2 wickets.
Markram and Rassie Van der Dussen fell cheaply to be in massive trouble at 24 for 4. Klassen looked in fine touch along with David Miller. After the rain break, both batters kept putting pressure on the Aussies bowling taking singles and hitting big shots. Travis Head was bought into attack getting wickets of Klassen and Jansen off successive deliveries. Klassen and Miller added 95 runs for the 5th wicket.
David Miller looked in sensational touch completing fifty off 70 deliveries. After reaching his fifty, Miller took the attack while Coetzee played his role brilliantly. Cummins struck to get rid of Coetzee to end 53 53-run partnership for the 7th wicket. Miller was at his brilliance completing his century off 115 deliveries and was eventually dismissed for 101. South Africa were bundled out for 212 in 49.4 overs. Cummins and Starc took 3 wickets each while Hazlewood and Zampa took 2 wickets each.
Both teams displaying vulnerabilities. By just waiting, Australia are becoming susceptible to a good ball
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 16, 2023
Good game that .. great effort by the lads đź‘Ź
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 16, 2023
Congratulations Team Australia
I think Aussies are a more deserving team in the final— Surinder (@navsurani) November 16, 2023
Bad luck #SouthAfrica feel for you guys ! Have to give to the Aussies , something about them in big games ! Keeping the composure under pressure . Onto the big finals #indiavsaus ! India clearly the favourites but hopefully it’s a cracker of a final !! And of course we 🇮🇳…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 16, 2023
8th World Cup Final for the Australian team, a remarkable record.
Sunday’s final will be the toughest of them all. #WorldcupFinal #INDvAUS— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) November 16, 2023
SA dropped crucial catches. One of the best fielding units have let themselves down in the big match. Same thing happened in 2015 WC SF too #SAvAUS
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 16, 2023
Australia will be facing india in the finals
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 16, 2023
Heartbroken South African team. đź’” pic.twitter.com/khlD7PXI3V
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 16, 2023
Serious innings @DavidMillerSA12 !!! One of the best of the tournament under huge pressure … #CWC2023
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 16, 2023
South Africa and their missing opportunities still a better love story than Radheshyam ❤️#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/Md38waTI9a
— Radoo🌶️ (@Chandan_radoo) November 16, 2023
Me, when people’s incompetence affects my work:
#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/eOYFJhU4Xa— Renn (@crabbity_) November 16, 2023
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