ODI World Cup 2023: South Africa scored 212 runs against Australia

South Africa and Australia clashed against each other in the second semi-final to book a clash against India in the finals of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. South Africa was restricted to just  212 runs as Australian pacers wreaked havoc on the Proteas’ batters. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first making two changes to their playing XI. Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi came into the side replacing Andile Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi. Australia too made two changes to their side replacing Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc. Here is a recap of the first innings.

South Africa troubled by Australian pacers

Mitchell Starc after having a series of poor performances struck in the first over dismissing the South African skipper, Temba Bavuma. Josh Hazlewood and Starc restricted the scoring allowing only seven runs in four overs (2-5). The lack of runs induced a false shot from Quinton de Kock. The sixth over from Hazlewood resulted in a wicket-maiden over. Starc followed it up with another maiden over from the opposite end. Aiden Markram smashed the first four of the match in the ninth over. South Africa ended up with 18 runs on the board after the powerplay for the loss of two wickets.

Starc dismissed Markram in the 11th over. In the following over, Hazlewood dismissed Rassie van der Dussen. Van der Dussen scored six runs in 31 balls. Pat Cummins came into the attack in the 14th over and was hit for a four each by Heinrich Klassen and David Miller. The rain interrupted the match after the 14th over causing a 40-minute delay.

Miller and Klassen provide some support

Adam Zampa came into the attack after the rain break and bowled a quiet two-run over. Hazlewood also came back into the attack and started off with a maiden from the opposite end. David Miller finally showed some signs of attack and smashed a six over deep mid-wicket in the 17th over off Zampa’s bowling. Hazlewood bowled his third maiden over of the game. Miller struck another six off Zampa’s bowling in the 19th over. Cummins came back into the attack and was hit for a four by Miller.

Glenn Maxwell replaced Zampa and came into the attack in the 21st over. The Australian all-rounder bowled tidily conceding just four runs off his first three overs. Maxwell and Cummins bowled in tandem and conceded just 14 runs in six overs (21-26). 

Zampa after a relatively expensive first spell replaced Maxwell in the 27th over and was welcomed with two sixes from Klassen. Maxwell replaced Cummins and changed his bowling end in order to break the annoying fifth wicket stand. Zampa continued to be expensive and was hit for yet another six by Miller. 

Head’s double strike put South Africa in the backseat

Travis Head replaced Zampa in the 31st over and made an instant impact. Klassen welcomed the part-time spinner with two consecutive fours but the 29-year-old had the last laugh as he dismissed Klassen. Klassen played a crucial knock of 47 runs in 48 balls hitting four fours and two sixes. Head was not done with Klassen’s wicket as he dismissed Marco Jansen on the following delivery. Miller in the following over completed his half-century with a four off Maxwell’s bowling. 

Maxwell and Head bowled some quiet overs conceding just 16 runs in five overs (33-37). Starc replaced Head in the 39th over and was hit for a four. Maxwell bowled his final over conceding just two runs in the 40th over. The Australian all-rounder finished with figures of 10-0-35-0. 

Head came back into the attack replacing Starc after just one over.  

Miller continues to attack despite wickets falling at the other end

Zampa came back into the attack as Cummins once again made a change of bowler after just one over this time it was Head who was replaced by the leg spinner. Zampa’s misery against Miller continued as he was hit for a six by the destructive batter. Cummins dismissed Gerald Coetzee in the 44th over. Zampa’s seventh over went for eight runs as Miller hit him for a four. Miller struck another four off Cummin’s bowling and moved into the 90s. Starc came back into the attack in the 47th over and dismissed Keshav Maharaj to pick up his third wicket of the match. Miller hit a six on the first ball of the following over to complete his century. The middle-order batter completed his ton in 115 balls. He was dismissed on the next ball by Cummins after scoring 101 runs in 116 balls hitting eight fours and five sixes.