South Africa vs Australia LIVE: World Cup result and reaction as Cummins and Starc lead Aussies to victory
Australia beat South Africa by three wickets and reach World Cup final
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Australia will face India in the Cricket World Cup final after overcoming South Africa at Eden Gardens winning their semi-final clash by three wickets.
Proteas captain, Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat only for South Africa to slip to 24-4 as Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc stuck early with the new ball. David Miller recovered the innings with a stylish century finishing with 101 runs as South Africa set a target of 213.
In reply, David Warner and Travis Head got the Aussies off to a flying start, putting on 60 for the first wicket. When Warner was dismissed for 29, Mitchell Marsh quickly followed and wickets continued to fall making Australia’s run chase a tense affair. Gerald Coetzee struck twice late in the innings leaving it to Starc and Pat Cummins to knock off the winning runs.
Australia advance to the tournament showpiece but face India who have yet to lose in this year’s competition and are favourites to claim the title of World Champions.
Relive the semi-final action below and get the latest odds and tips right here:
South Africa 203-9 (48) Rabada 3, Shamsi 0, Cummins 2-49 (9)
It’s hard to believe there was a six off the first ball of the over, because since then the tide has turned, and the only runs on the board have come from a wide.
Cummins has bowled very well.
Wicket! Miller out for 101! ct Head b Cummins - South Africa 203-8
Just after bringing up his century, he went for another huge hit but couldn’t find the middle of the bat, and he has hit it straight to head at deep midwicket.
Cummins has taken a very important wicket, and South Africa will be lucky to bat out their overs here.
Miller 100! South Africa 202-8
Miller brings up his century with a massive six into the top tier. That was a huge hit - 94 metres! - and what a way to bring up your century.
He came to the crease with South Africa 24-4 and he has had to work hard to a very hard-earned century.
South Africa 196-8 (47) Miller 95, Rabada 3, Starc 3-28 (9)
Rabada comes to the crease and gets off strike with his first ball to bring Miller on strike. It might be becoming time for Miller to start backing himself and farming the strike.
But there’s another single and a wide. Rabada flicks one off his pads for two.
Wicket! Maharaj out for 4! ct Smith b Starc - South Africa 191-8
It will be Starc, he has two overs left and Miller will be on strike just six runs away from his century.
He will get off strike with a leg bye.
Maharaj could not resist going for a big shot, but it came straight off the toe of the bat and looped towards Steve Smith.
South Africa 190-7 (46) Miller 94, Maharaj 4, Cummins 1-42 (8)
Cummins will keep going from the other end, and Miller has a four first ball, with a well-timed pull-shot into the gap between mid on and midwicket.
Eight from the over.
South Africa 182-7 (45) Miller 88, Maharaj 2, Zampa 0-54 (7)
Zampa is into his seventh, but he will have to bowl against Miller, and he conceded a four from the first ball.
Miller gets another two to keep the strike, but can only get a single from the fourth ball.
Maharaj will be on strike.
South Africa 174-7 (44) Miller 81, Maharaj 1, Cummins 1-34 (7)
Coetzee had not hit that! He could have reviewed, it looked like it came off his shoulder rather than bat or glove, but the batter was not convinced.
Wicket! Coetzee out for 19! ct Inglis b Cummins South Africa 172-7
Cummins strikes! Coetzee was getting to a point when he had to go after it and he tried it with the bouncer but could only get a faint edge on it going through to the wicketkeeper.
Coetzee departs for 19, and Miller is running out of partners.
South Africa 171-6 (43) Miller 79, Coetzee 19, Zampa 0-47 (6)
Zampa will come back on despite being the most expensive of any Australian bowler. And Miller has hit yet another six, the previous ones had gone over mid on, but this one goes straight down the ground.
But there’s only seven from the over.
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