ODI World Cup 2023: South Africa scored 311 runs against Australia

South Africa carried their batting form as they scored 311 runs against the five-time champion side, Australia. Both teams made changes to their playing XIs from the previous match. Australia brought in Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis for Alex Carey and Cameron Green while the Proteas Gerald Coetzee with Tabraiz Shamsi. South Africa came into this clash after a humungous win against Sri Lanka while Australia suffered a tough defeat against the hosts, India. Here is a recap of the first innings.

Openers control the powerplay for South Africa

Wicketkeeper, Quinton de Kock and skipper, Temba Bavuma were unfazed by the Australian bowlers. Mitchell Starch and Josh Hazlewood found swing right from the start at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. After just three overs each from the two pacers, Australia brought Glenn Maxwell into the attack. The spin-bowling all-rounder conceded just seven runs off his first two overs in the powerplay. De Kock and Bavuma scored 53 runs in the first 10 overs.

Bowlers and fielders let down Australia

Adam Zampa came into the attack in the 13th over and straightaway was on the mark as he induced an edge from Bavuma in his first over. The wicketkeeper, Josh Inglis dropped the catch and missed the chance to dismiss Bavuma for 20 runs. Both batters played with a contrasting style as de Kock was playing with an attacking mindset while the skipper was timid despite getting three lives from the Pat Cummins-led side. In 17.4 overs, South Africa brought up their 100-run opening stand with de Kock hitting 61 runs off 57 balls while Bavuma scored 33 runs off 51 balls. This was South Africa’s fourth 50+ and second 100+ stand against Australia in the last five ODIs they played against each other. 

Maxwell broke the century stand in the 20th over as David Warner finally took a catch to dismiss Bavuma. Prior to his dismissal, Bavuma was dropped by Zampa (9.1), Inglis (12.5) and Starc (15.4). In his next over, Maxwell bowled the first maiden over of the innings, but de Kock made for it by smashing Hazlewood for two sixes in the next over.

South African batters score freely in middle overs

Rassie van der Dussen and de Kock once again looked like they would trouble the Aussies just like they did against the Sri Lankan team in the previous match. Van der Dussen became the second joint-fastest to 2000 runs in ODIs. The South African batter is tied with Zaheer Abbas, Kevin Pietersen and Babar Azam. Zampa got his first wicket of the tournament by dismissing van der Dussen in the 29th over. The South African batter scored 26 runs in 30 balls hitting two fours.

Skipper, Cummins brought himself on right after van der Dussen’s wicket. Aiden Markram came to the crease and just on his third ball gave Cummins a chance to dismiss him. It was a full toss delivery which Markram drove straight to Cummins who despite getting his hands to the ball dropped the catch. In the seam over, de Kock brought his second consecutive century of the World Cup with pull over square leg. With this century de Kock became the second South African player to score two consecutive centuries in World Cups. AB de Villiers achieved the feat first in 2011.

Cummins’ poor luck continued as in his next over he burnt the first review while challenging a caught behind call against the centurion. Cummins continued to be expensive as Markram smashed the Australian skipper for two fours in his sixth over. The Australian pacer had already leaked 46 runs in his 6 overs. Maxwell took his second wicket of the innings by dismissing de Kock.

South African batters look set for death overs

Heading into the death overs, South Africa had scored 232 runs for the loss of three wickets and had Heinrich Klassen and Markram on the crease both looking in ominous touch. Australia’s best bowler of the day, Maxwell had already bowled out his 10 overs with his figures reading 10-1-34-2. Zampa was smashed for two boundaries by both batters as he leaked 11 runs in the 41st over. In the next over the middle-order batters brought up their 50-run partnership in 41 balls. Markram continued his high-striking form from the previous game by smashing three consecutive fours against Zampa. Markram scored his half-century in just 41 balls. Zampa conceded 70 runs in his quota of 10 overs. Cummins finally got his first wicket of the tournament by dismissing Aiden Markram. Hazlewood dismissed Klassen in the following over and killed the South African scoring rate. Poor fielding continued as Australian fielders dropped two catches in the 49th over.