Australia defeat South Africa to set up World Cup final with India

KOLKATA (Agencies): Australia sealed their place in Sunday’s final of the 50-over World Cup against India following a nervy three-wicket victory against South Africa in the second semi-final on Thursday. Australia bowled out South Africa for a below-par 212 despite David Miller’s defiant 101 but the chase was not as straightforward as Pat Cummins and his team would have liked. Travis Head (62) led Australia’s rollicking start before a mid-innings wobble put the five-time champions in a spot of bother. South Africa did not let big partnerships bloom but Australia eventually reached the target with 16 balls to spare with Steve Smith (30) and Jos Inglis (28) providing useful cameos. Earlier, Temba Bavuma’s decision to bat under an overcast sky backfired and South Africa slumped to 24-4 inside 12 overs before light rain held up play.

Australia were accurate with the ball and agile in the field, turning up the heat on their rivals. Miller and Heinrich Klaasen (47) arrested the slide after play resumed with a 95-run partnership but Head’s double strike put Australia back in charge. Miller smashed Cummins for a six to bring up his hundred but fell in the same over trying to clear the rope again. India beat New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday to book their place in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

Quinton de Kock c Cummins b Hazlewood  3

Temba Bavuma c Inglis b Starc 0

Rassie van der Dussen c Smith b Hazlewood 6

Aiden Markram c Warner b Starc       10

Heinrich Klaasen b Head 47

David Miller c Head b Cummins        101

Marco Jansen lbw b Head         0

Gerald Coetzee c Inglis b Cummins    19

Keshav Maharaj c Smith b Starc         4

Kagiso Rabada c Maxwell b Cummins         10

Tabraiz Shamsi not out   1

EXTRAS (LB 4, W 7)    11

TOTAL (49.4 overs)      212

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1, 2-8, 3-22, 4-24, 5-119, 6-119, 7-172, 8-191, 9-203, 10-212

BOWLING

Mitchell Starc       10-1-34-3

Josh Hazlewood    8-3-12-2

Pat Cummins        9.4-0-51-3

Adam Zampa        7-0-55-0

Glenn Maxwell     10-0-35-0

Travis Head 5-0-21-2

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Travis Head b Maharaj   62

David Warner b Markram         29

Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Rabada  0

Steven Smith c de Kock b Coetzee      30

Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Shamsi    18

Glenn Maxwell b Shamsi 1

Josh Inglis b Coetzee      28

Mitchell Starc not out     16

Pat Cummins not out      14

Did not bat: Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

EXTRAS (LB 3, NB 2, W 12)  17

TOTAL (47.2 overs)      215-7

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-60, 2-61, 3-106, 4-133, 5-137, 6-174, 7-193

BOWLING

Marco Jansen        4.2-0-35-0

Kagiso Rabada      6-0-41-1

Aiden Markram    8-1-23-1

Gerald Coetzee     9-0-47-2

Tabraiz Shamsi     10-0-42-2

Keshav Maharaj    10-0-24-1

Umpires: Nitin Menon, Richard Kettleborough

TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney

Match referee: Javagal Srinath