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 44-4 - Rain stops play
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked Babar Azam as their white-ball captain following their elimination from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Azam announced on Wednesday he had stepped down from the role across formats, but the PCB later confirmed the player had been relieved of the white-ball captaincy. While Pakistan’s national board wanted him to stay on as Test captain, Azam decided to step down after a thorough discussion with his family.
Babar Azam steps down from PAK captaincy in all forms following World Cup debacle
Babar Azam quits Test captaincy after PCB relieves him from white-ball duties
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
There are no signs yet of the covers coming off the field unfortunately
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
Here are some of the stories from yesterday’s semi-final while the rain continues to fall in Kolkata:
India captain Rohit Sharma felt his side could never relax as they closed out a 70-run win over New Zealand to reach the World Cup final following Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI century in Mumbai.
Sachin Tendulkar was in his home city to witness first-hand Kohli set a new benchmark in ODIs with a typically assured 117 off 113 balls which laid the foundations for India’s mammoth 397 for four.
Rohit Sharma glad India ‘could get the job done’ against New Zealand
Mohammed Shami took a career-best seven for 57 as New Zealand’s run chase came up short
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
Here are some photos of the current state of play, we will bring you updates when we have them:
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
There can be an extra two hours of play added tonight, but if the match is not over by then, it will be into a reserve day tomorrow.
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
Rain has stopped play in Kolkata, so here’s a look at some of the photos from the game so far:
South Africa 44-4 - Rain stops play
The rain has started coming down, the covers are on the pitch and there will be a break in play while it hopefully passes.
South Africa 43-4 (14) Klassen 10, Miller 10, Cummins 0-12 (1)
Cummins will take over from Hazlewood and Klaasen has driven him away to the off side boundary for four from the first ball from the Australian captain.
There’s a two from the second ball, and another single, this might be the most prolific over for the Proteas so far in the match.
Miller drives, it’s upwards, but just short of the field and will bring another boundary.
12 runs from that over.
South Africa 32-4 (13) Klaasen 3, Miller 5, Starc 2-18 (7)
Starc is into his seventh over, both the bowlers have been at their absolute best, it has been a bowling masterclass.
Potentially South Africa should have been able to do a bit better, especially given their form at times during the tournament, but the two experienced Aussies have not bowled a ball wrong.
Every ball feels like it could be about to bring a wicket.
South Africa 28-4 (12) Klaasen 1, Miller 4, Hazlewood 2-12 (6)
Miller comes in and is almost out immediately but he edged it for four.
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