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:
OUT! Josh Inglis b Coetzee 28 (49), Australia 193-7 (39.5)
A searing yorker!
It’s been a brilliant knock from Josh Inglis but he’s been beaten by South Africa’s gasman, delivering just when his side need him to continue a breakthrough tournament. It’s full and fast from Gerald Coetzee, targeting the toes and getting it absolutely spot on. Inglis jabs a spade at it but can’t squeeze it out, bat on to pad, on to timber.
Australia 193-6 (39.2), Inglis 28, Starc 10, Coetzee 1-39 (6.2) (target 213)
A nudge through square leg allows Mitchell Starc to tap and turn for two, and he’s up into double figures with a similar shot next ball to leave just 20 needed.
Australia 190-6 (39), Inglis 28, Starc 7, Maharaj 1-24 (10) (target 213)
“Yes mate,” Josh Inglis says, surprising pretty much everyone, including his partner and the fielder, whose slow throw saves Mitchell Starc from paying for a slightly laboured stride through for a single early in the over.
Four balls left at Starc, who can use those long levers to hit with the turn impressively. The hoicks and heaves are absent, though - the left-hander blocks out the noise and the rest of the over, directing his last defensive shot away from a fielder to take a run of his own.
1-24 are fine figures for Keshav Maharaj - but Australia are inching their way closer to Ahmedabad and Sunday’s final.
Australia 188-6 (38), Inglis 27, Starc 6, Coetzee 1-37 (6) (target 213)
In comes a slip now on the line through which that edge flew, with Gerald Coetzee pushing to the top of his speed limit.
Just out of reach! The ball pops up in the air off Starc’s jabbing bat but the bowler can’t retrieve it in his follow through! It’s a tremendous, sprawling effort in the fifth over of a physically taxing spell - but not enough.
Keshav Maharaj has one over left, which he will bowl now.
Australia 188-6 (36.2), Inglis 27, Starc 6, Coetzee 1-37 (5.2) (target 213)
Nicked for four! No slip, and Mitchell Starc survives, squared up as he goes back to a brute from Gerald Coetzee but his edge out of diving reach of Quinton de Kock. Marco Jansen can’t corral it on the boundary.
Australia 184-6 (36), Inglis 27, Starc 2, Shamsi 2-42 (10) (target 213)
Tabraiz Shamsi will finish off his ten, six more balls to try and find a fissure as Australia rebuild towards victory. Josh Inglis chomps on his gum, whispering to himself as he resets between each delivery, daring not chance his arm or unneccesarily expose his tailender to the mystery man.
Shamsi changes the angle, coming around the wicket. Inglis is firmly forward in defence and then drives handsomely for a couple through cover.
Australia 182-6 (36), Inglis 25, Starc 2, Coetzee 1-33 (5) (target 213)
Shot! This is turning into a little gem from Josh Inglis, riding a Gerald Coetzee short ball and then climbing into the crispest of cover drives, a touch aerial but well away from the fielder.
Mitchell Starc survives three balls, digging out the last of them as Coetzee moaned, his yorker quick but not quite quick enough.
Australia 177-6 (35), Inglis 20, Starc 2, Shamsi 2-40 (9) (target 213)
A slip and a gully waiting to Mitchell Starc’s left, a sometimes eager slogger no doubt recognising this is a time for caution. The second catcher exits before the fourth ball of the over, and Starc can probably then decudce will be on a straighter line. His flick to deep midwicket reduces the runs required to 37.
Starc is returned to the strike by a Josh Inglis single and watches the final ball go outside off.
Australia 175-6 (34), Inglis 19, Mitchell Starc 1, Coetzee 1-28 (4) (target 213)
I wondered if Pat Cummins might promote himself and try to see his side home, but there is no change in the Australian order, with Mitchell Starc out to join Josh Inglis. He’s off the mark with a drive to deep cover.
That really was a strange shot from Steve Smith, perhaps reminiscent of some of his frazzled swipes to boundary fielders during last summer’s Ashes when England went to the short ball strategy in a similarly grim situation. Coetzee has his tail up, a short ball whistling over the top of a ducking Josh Inglis’s head. Coetzee follows it down and hurls some verbals. He’s a cricketer who is at his best in the battle.
Tabraiz Shamsi will return at the other end.
OUT! Steven Smith c †de Kock b Coetzee 30 (62), Australia 174-6 (33.3)
Steve Smith falls!
Crikey! That is a rather unsightly dismissal for Australia’s anchorman, who had shown so much restraint to edge his side to within touching distance of a World Cup final.
He is expecting a shorter ball, perhaps, and thus clears the front leg, going through with the shot even with the length slightly fuller. A meaty top edge climbs to the Kolkata heavens and comes down in Quinton de Kock’s gloves - South Africa are alive!
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