Australia vs South Africa: Cricket World Cup semifinal – as it happened
All the updates as Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in their World Cup semifinal in Kolkata, India.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal between Australia and South Africa on November 16:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal between Australia and South Africa on November 16:
- Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in a thrilling second semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and will face unbeaten hosts India in the final on Sunday.
- After restricting the South Africans to 212, Australia eked their way to 215-7 to win with 16 balls to spare in a tense atmosphere inside Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- After South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, bowlers for five-time champions Australia made a brilliant start. But South Africa bounced back after a rain delay, with David Miller scoring 101 off 116 balls.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
One game to go…
It feels like a long while since this Cricket World Cup started with England vs New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
But the competition will end at that same venue on Sunday as India take on Australia.
The hosts are unbeaten at this tournament and almost feel destined to lift the trophy, but Australia have shown their quality to shake off a couple of early defeats and fight their way to the final.
Join us on Sunday for live coverage of this showpiece ODI final.
Goodbye!
‘A great effort’
Australian captain Pat Cummins has been speaking to the media on the Eden Gardens field. He talked about the tension of that chase:
“I think it’s easier out there than sitting in the dugout, actually. It was a great effort and there were plenty of good performances. I’m pretty pumped.”
Australia were particularly impressive in the field today, stopping runs at every opportunity.
“We talk a lot about our fielding”, said Cummins.
“It probably wasn’t up to scratch at the start of the tournament. But the effort was showed by all today. You’ve got David Warner, 37, diving around in the field.”
He also looked ahead to Sunday’s final against the hosts.
“The good thing is a few of us have been in a final before so we can draw on that. You’ve just got to embrace it, the stadium is going to be pretty packed I would imagine.”
South Africa head home
A bitter sweet ending to a phenomenal tournament by the boys.
We are incredibly proud of the brilliant display of cricket since day 1 of the #CWC23. 🏏🇿🇦💚#CWC23 #SAvAus #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/HhsJfw98Yy
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 16, 2023
‘It’s hard to unpack all of that’
Two wickets and 62 runs secure Travis Head Player of the Match award.
“It’s hard to unpack all of that. It was a tense finish, an amazing game, hard to unpack it all”, he said.
“We had to play a little bit differently. We knew it was going to be a grind and a battle and that’s what it was”.
Head will be tested again on Sunday when he takes on India in the World Cup final.
“They have an unbelievable attack but that’s why you play. I’d never have dreamt I’d be in a World Cup final playing an unbelievable team”, he told Michael Atherton after the match.
… and relax
I think everybody needs a breather after that one. It was a low-scoring game that was full of tension throughout.
Australia looked in big trouble when Smith was inexplicably caught out, but they held their nerve and got the job done.
They now move into their eighth World Cup final.
1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 AND 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣!
Australia are through to yet another ICC Men's @cricketworldcup final 🤯#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/xgQydk2mK8
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 16, 2023
Australia win by three wickets!
Jansen runs in to face Cummins.
The Australian captain defends the first ball but then cuts the next delivery to the backward point boundary to win the game for his country!
That was incredibly tense, but captain Cummins has seen his country home.
47 overs. Australia 211-7
Markram is tasked with pulling off a miracle for South Africa. Australia can finish this with one shot.
Cummins resists from the first two balls of the over before picking up a single off the third.
Three dot balls end the over. Australia need two runs to win!
46 overs. Australia 210-7
Jansen returns to the attack. He hasn’t bowled since the start of this innings, and he can’t afford to give away any wides.
He throws in two short balls early on, but they are well handled by Starc.
His fourth ball is pitched up, and Starc puts it away through the leg side for four. They are almost there!
Three to win with four overs to go.
45 overs. Australia 206-7
Cummins edges behind off Markram, but de Kock can’t hold on! It was a tough opportunity, especially under this pressure.
Unbelievable drama out there.
The batsmen pick up two singles to end the over. Australia need seven to win.
44 overs. Australia 204-7
Coetzee returns for his eighth over. He seems to be struggling a little, perhaps with a slight injury.
But he’s still finding plenty of pace and delivers three dot balls to start the over.
A single from Cummins off the fourth ball means Australia now require just nine.
Starc tries to pull one through the leg side, but takes it on the body.
Coetzee looks spent. He’s bowled very well today.
43 overs. Australia 203-7
More spin from Markram.
He strays wide down leg from his second delivery. Australia will take that all day long. A total 11 needed.
Two balls later, and Cummins is almost caught out! He pops one in the air to mid-wicket. Miller dives forward to catch it one-handed, but the ball was just short. Unbelievable.
Cummins picks a single up off the penultimate ball of the over. Ten runs to win.
42 overs. Australia 201-7
Coetzee is back. He’s made things happen this evening and it looks like he might have broken Cummins bat.
While the Australian captain gets some new equipment, Coetzee receives some treatment on the field.
When play resumes, Cummins finds the boundary for a vital four. He opened the face of his bat, and the ball raced across the outfield to the rope.
I’m getting flashbacks to the Ashes earlier this year, when Cummins guided Australia home in a thriller at Edgbaston.
Coetzee delivers a no ball off his final delivery, bringing the 200 up for Australia. It also gifts the Aussies a free hit.
Starc goes for a big one and is bowled! Luckily for him, it’s meaningless.
Australia need 12 runs from 48 balls.
41 overs. Australia 195-7
That lbw appeal leaves South Africa with no reviews remaining.
Markram is in. Remember, he broke Australia’s brilliant opening partnership.
Australia need less than two an over, but the tension is almost unbearable.
There’s nearly a caught and bowled opportunity off the last ball of the over, but it wasn’t to be for South Africa.
Australia need 18 from 54 balls.
40 overs. Australia 193-7
Captain Cummins comes to the crease to face the final ball of the over.
There’s an absolutely huge LBW appeal. The umpire doesn’t move, and South Africa decide to review.
There’s no bat involved, but the ball was pitching outside leg, and Cummins survives.
The drama!
Wicket! Inglis is bowled! Australia 193-7
Coetzee has bowled Inglis!
He gets him with a fuller ball that the batsman is unable to dig out from under his feet.
Inglis batted brilliantly for his 28, but that wicket feels huge.
39 overs. Australia 190-6
Maharaj comes in for his final over today.
Inglis scrambles a single off the second ball, but that does leave Starc at the crease.
He does very well to see out the over, even picking up a single off the final ball.
Australia need 23 runs from 66 balls.
38 overs. Australia 188-6
Coetzee squares Starc up, and the Australian edges behind. There’s no slip in place and the ball runs to the boundary despite the best efforts of the fielder at third man.
There’s then another huge opportunity off the final ball of the over.
Starc struggles with a shorter ball and presents Coetzee with a catching opportunity. The bowler does very well to take a dive at it but just misses the ball.
The tension continues.
37 overs. Australia 184-6
Shamsi returns for his final over of this semifinal.
There is tension in the air at Eden Gardens, with nails being bitten and prayers being said.
Inglis nicks two off the last ball of the over, bringing to an end a brilliant spell from Shamsi. He’s played his part this evening.
36 overs. Australia 182-6
Inglis finds the boundary off Coetzee’s second delivery with a lovely cover drive.
The English-born Australian has batted very well this evening so far.
Coetzee has three balls at Starc but doesn’t trouble the batsman.
Australia need 31 runs from 84 balls.
35 overs. Australia 177-6
Shamsi is back to have a go at the tailender Starc.
The win predictor still backs Australia, giving them an 84 percent chance.
Starc plays the first three balls of the over well and then gets a single to bring Inglis back on strike.
He picks up his own single, and Starc carefully watches the final delivery of the over.
34 overs. Australia 175-6
Starc is the next batsman in. This is getting extremely nervy for the Australians.
Coetzee sees out the over with another short ball before engaging in some chat with Inglis.
Fiesty!
Wicket! Smith is caught out! Australia 174-6
Smith has been outwitted by Coetzee!
The Australian was expecting a shorter ball but gets a fuller one and ends up swiping his drive high into the air.
De Kock does very well to sprint towards the wicket and safely take a diving catch.
The momentum swings again.
33 overs. Australia 174-5
The ball is thrown to Rabada. He was slogged around the field during his opening three overs, but Bavuma will be hopeful that he can find a spark to break this partnership.
He fails to trouble Inglis and Smith in this over with just two singles from it.
32 overs. Australia 172-5
It feels that the momentum is swinging back in Australia’s favour with fewer than 50 runs required.
South Africa need to break this partnership sharpish.
Coetzee appeals for a caught behind opportunity down leg side, but the ball nicked Smith’s thigh pad and a wide is given.
Smith then genuinely nicks one behind, but there’s no slip, and the ball runs away for four.
Australia need 41 to win.
31 overs. Australia 165-5
Inglis is looking well in control at the crease. He’s dealt with the spin well and played some good shots.
Three singles from the over keeps the scoreboard ticking over nicely for Australia.