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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Australia 206-7 (45), Cummins 9, Starc 12, Markram 1-22 (7) (target 213)
An edge! But down it goes! A thin inside nick from Pat Cummins but Quinton de Kock can’t take! Is that South Africa’s last chance?
Australia 204-7 (44), Cummins 8, Starc 11, Coetzee 2-47 (9) (target 213)
This is extraordinary stamina from Gerald Coetzee, though you fancy that Temba Bavuma would have to wrench the ball out of his hands at this stage. Pat Cummins lifts him to deep cover for a single. Into single figures.
Mitchell Starc takes a blow to the body as he tries to hook a short ball up into the stands. A full toss looks inviting but Starc is slow to react, and half-hits his shot to Kagiso Rabada at a straight, shortish mid-off. Just one from the over.
Australia 204-7 (44), Cummins 8, Starc 11, Coetzee 2-47 (9) (target 213)
This is extraordinary stamina from Gerald Coetzee, though you fancy that Temba Bavuma would have to wrench the ball out of his hands at this stage. Pat Cummins lifts him to deep cover for a single. Into single figures.
Mitchell Starc takes a blow to the body as he tries to hook a short ball up into the stands. A full toss looks inviting but Starc is slow to react, and half-hits his shot to Kagiso Rabada at a straight, shortish mid-off. Just one from the over.
Australia 203-7 (43), Cummins 7, Starc 11, Markram 1-20 (6) (target 213)
South Africa’s fielders clap their hands, urging Aiden Markram on. Pat Cummins wisely withdraws his stroke to watch a wide go by. 11 needed.
Inches away again! Oh, how many of those are South Africa going to have to deal with, another catching opportunity not quite carrying with David Miller not tight enough at short midwicket. Temba Bavuma slaps the floor in frustration.
A punch down the ground. Australia need ten. Up come the straight fielders, Bavuma and Markram tempting Mitchell Starc. The left-hander declines, his only shot in anger so far having been at the free hit in the previous over.
Australia 201-7 (42), Cummins 6, Starc 11, Coetzee 2-46 (8) (target 213)
No ball! An attempted yorker slips out and hones in on Pat Cummins’s stomach, a turn to leg adding one more to the total and giving Mitchell Starc a chance to free the arms.
Starc fails to connect. A dot. But Australia need only 12.
Australia 199-7 (41.2), Cummins 5, Starc 11, Coetzee 2-44 (7.2) (target 213)
The new willow works! A delightful square drive for four!
14 needed.
Australia 195-7 (41.1), Cummins 1, Starc 11, Coetzee 2-40 (7.1) (target 213)
This is some effort from Gerald Coetzee, now into a seventh unchanged. His pace is still up, too - a short ball is fended away by Pat Cummins, breaking the Australia captain’s bat.
Coetzee goes down for some treatment on an achy calf as Cummins retrieves a new bit of willow.
Australia 195-7 (41), Cummins 1, Starc 11, Markram 1-18 (5) (target 213)
Aiden Markram initially cracked things open for South Africa with the wicket of David Warner, and with his two lead spinners bowled out, Temba Bavuma goes back to his part-time offie. Australia still don’t need to hurry, their requirement down into the teens.
Just short! My, oh my! A leading edge from Mitchell Starc but safe by a foot or so as Markram gathers on the half-volley in his follow-through. I
NOT OUT! Australia 193-7 (40), Pat Cummins 0, Starc 10, Coetzee 2-40 (7) (target 213)
Pitching outside leg! And, in truth, by a distance, too, the intensity and emotion perhaps just catching up with Coetzee who was practically screaming his appeal in his follow through.
That failure to overturn the on-field call means South Africa are out of reviews. New man Cummins won’t need reminding of the importance of having one in reserve in a tight contest.
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