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

Captain Pat Cummins on Australia's form ahead of South Africa world cup semi final

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 vs Australia live

• South Africa face Australia in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals
• South Africa won the toss, chose to bat and were bowled out for 212
• Australia reach target with three wickets remaining
• OUT! David Warner b Markam 29 (18), Australia 60-1 (6.1)
• OUT! Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Rabada 0 (6), Australia 61-2 (7.4)
• OUT! Travis Head b Maharaj 62 (48), Australia 106-3 (14.1)
• OUT! Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Shamsi 18 (31), Australia 133-4 (21.5)
• OUT! Glenn Maxwell b Shamsi 1 (5), Australia 137-5 (23.4)
• OUT! Steven Smith c †de Kock b Coetzee 30 (62), Australia 174-6 (33.3)
• OUT! Josh Inglis b Coetzee 28 (49), Australia 193-7 (39.5)

[16 November 2023 14:10 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 93-2 (12.1), Head 55, Smith 2, Aiden Markram 1-11 (3.1) (target 213)

Reeza Hendricks trudges off, Kagiso Rabada ready to return and the substitute fielder therefore no longer required. Will that spill be his only involvement in the semi-final? It was a toughie, but Hendricks is an excellent operator in the deep.

[16 November 2023 14:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

50 for Travis Head! Australia 92-2 (12), Head 54, Smith 2, Gerald Coetzee 0-15 (1) (target 213)

A half century for Travis Head, up off 40 balls after three more crisply struck boundaries. Coetzee gives him his favourite line and length outside off stump and Head is in a ravenous mood, munching away merrily as Australia accelerate.

(Getty Images)

[16 November 2023 14:07 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Dropped! Australia 78-2 (11.1), Head 41, Smith 1, Gerald Coetzee 0-1 (0.1) (target 213)

And he could have had a wicket first ball! Head slashes the ball out to deep point, where substitute Reeza Hendricks is stationed. It dips on Hendricks late but he gets both hands to it, and he’ll be disappointed not to have clung on!

[16 November 2023 14:05 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 77-2 (11), Head 40, Smith 1, Gerald Coetzee 0-0 (0) (target 213)

A change at the other end - and slightly surprisingly given the turn Markram is finding, it’s not one of South Africa’s two frontline spinners. Gerald Coetzee will stomp in instead.

[16 November 2023 14:04 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 77-2 (11), Head 40, Smith 1, Markram 1-10 (3) (target 213)

The field spreads as Aiden Markram begins, five in the ring, four outside, with Australia already more than a third of the way there to their required 213.

This is good from Markram, pushing it full as much as possible and flighting his offies nicely. His last ball is less aesthetically pleasing, but Travis Head is happy to pat it down the ground for one and pinch the strike.

[16 November 2023 14:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 74-2 (10), Head 38, Smith 0, Rabada 1-39 (2) (target 213)

It’s not perfectly timed, but that will be four more for Head, a wipe over mid-on clearing the fielder in the ring comfortably.

Howzat! Off the body! Kagiso Rabada is keen but Quinton de Kock rather less so as a beaten Steve Smith turns away with the ball having brushed his ribcage rather than the edge of his New Balance on its way through to the keeper. Australia continue to rattle along but South Africa are back in the mix at the end of the powerplay.

[16 November 2023 13:57 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 68-2 (9), Head 33, Smith 0, Markram 1-7 (2) (target 213)

Swept venomously for six! Despite those two wickets in quick succession, Travis Head isn’t about to go into his shell, planting his foot down and retrieving the broom to send Aiden Markram to the stands. A single to long-off follows.

[16 November 2023 13:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 61-2 (8), Head 26, Steve Smith 0, Rabada 1-33 (4) (target 213)

Steve Smith in, with Marnus Labuschagne still to come and Australia perhaps starting to be quite glad of that middle order security. Aiden Markram will continue.

[16 November 2023 13:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

OUT! Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Rabada 0 (6), Australia 61-2 (7.4)

WHAT A CATCH!

Oh, that is jaw-droppingly good from Rassie van der Dussen in the covers. There are two slips waiting for an edge but Mitchell Marsh connects cleanly enough with the drive, perhaps just clothing it slightly. That sends it aerially to Van der Dussen’s right, and the fielder springs like a goalkeeper, pushing out two hands and clinging on as he crashes back down to earth. The momentum is swinging!

[16 November 2023 13:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 60-1 (7), Head 25, Mitchell Marsh 0, Markram 1-0 (1)

Markram stays around the wicket to right-hander Mitch Marsh, new to the crease and watchful to begin, using his pad to shield himself outside of off stump. A wicket maiden to begin with appreciable turn - and Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa’s specialist tweakers, coo approvingly.