Sports Reporter :
Australia reached the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) beating South Africa by three wickets in the second semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the former capital of India on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, South Africa scored 212 off 49.4 overs.
In reply, Australia overhauled the victory target making 215 for the loss of seven wickets when they had just 16 balls to spare.
Australia had a solid start as two openers Travis Head and David Warner scored together 60 runs in the opening before Warner (29) was bowled out by Aiden Markram.
Travis Head and second-down Steve Smith added together 45 runs for the third wicket partnership before Travis was bowled out by Keshav Maharaj when the Aussies’ total was 106 for the loss of three wickets.
Travis hit a sparkle 62. His 48-ball innings was laced with nine fours and two sixes.
Third-down Marnus Labuschangne (18) was trapped leg before wicket by Tabraiz Shamsi when Australia’s score was 133 for the loss of four wickets.
In-form Glenn Maxwell (1) was bowled out by Shamsi when Australia’s total was 137 for the loss of five wickets.
Steve Smith and Josh Inglis added together 37 runs in the six-wicket stand before Smith (30) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Gerald Coetzee when Australia’s score was 174 for the loss of six wickets.
Josh (28) was bowled out by Coetzee when the Aussies’ score was 193 for the loss of seven wickets.
Then, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins helped their side to anchor the victory target.
Starc remained unbeaten with 16 runs, while Cummins remained unbeaten with 14 runs.
Tabraiz Shamsi and Coetzee bagged two wickets each for 42 and 47 runs respectively.
Earlier, South Africa lost their early four wickets for 24 runs.
Third-down Heinrich Klaasen and fourth-down David Miller rescued their team from early disaster contributing together 75 runs for the five wicket partnership before Klaasen was bowled out by Travis Head when South Africa’s total was 119 for the loss of four wickets.
Klaasen hit a polished 47. His 48-ball innings was belted with two sixes and four fours.
Later, Miller and Gerald Coetzee built another notable partnership. They put on together 53 runs in the seven-wicket stand before Gerald Coetzee (19) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis off Pat Cummins when South Africa’s score was 172 for the loss of seven wickets.
After Gerald’s dismissal, South Africa failed to build any notable partnership.
Miller notched up a splendid 101. He hit five sixes and eight fours in his 116-ball innings before he was caught at the deep square leg by Travis Head off Pat Cummins when South Africa’s total was 203 for the loss of nine wickets.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins captured three wickets each instead of 34 and 51 runs respectively.
Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head claimed two wickets each giving 12 and 21 runs respectively.
