Australia's Glenn Maxwell in action against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, November 16, 2023.
Credit: PTI Photo
Kolkata: There is simply no team as good as Australia when it comes to the knockout stage of ICC ODI World Cup. Blessed with innate mental fortitude, the record five-time champions either bring out their best in such matches or know how to rise up when faced with adversity. On Thursday, South Africa tried their best to knock them down but eventually found out why the Australians are the most successful side in cricket.
South Africa fought back with plenty of heart despite scoring a below-par 212 all out but the second semifinal at the iconic Eden Gardens was effectively decided in the opening 10 overs where the mighty Australia laid down the marker like champions always do.
Pacers Mitchell Starc (3/34) and Josh Hazlewood (2/12) were right on the money from the word go, landing every ball where they envisioned. While Starc kept it full and swung it considerably, Hazlewood was in the great Glenn McGrath mould, keeping the ball just in and around the off-stump. They hardly allowed the South Africans any scoring opportunities, mounting pressure on them with every passing delivery.
If South Africa wanted to break free, the only way was to take some risks. Such was the high quality of bowling — Australia conceded their first boundary in the fourth ball of the ninth over — South Africa had no other option but to try and force Australia to something different. Hazlewood and Starc, like bowling machines, however, kept hitting the difficult lines and lengths and South Africa struggled to cope.
After the first Powerplay of 10 overs, South Africa were 18/2 and when they lost Aiden Markram in the 11th over and Rassie van der Dussen in the 12th over to be reduced to 24/4, one knew who was going to meet India in the final at Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Aussies were just irresistible at that stage and South Africa, with a history of committing harakiri in knockout games, a nervous bunch.
David Miller (101) and Heinrich Klaasen (47) had different plans though. They steadied the wobbling ship through composure at the start before targeting ace spinner Adam Zampa to signal hopes of a recovery. But part-timer Travis Head (2/21) swung it back Australia’s way with a double strike in the 31st over, first cleaning up Klaasen to end a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket and then trapping Marco Jansen leg-before the very next ball. At 119/6 the writing was on the wall for South Africa.
Miller, however, refused to give up and cracked the first century by a South African in a World Cup knockout game to single-handedly take them to a somewhat competitive total. Given Australia’s might with the bat and their temperament in big games, it was never going to be enough unless they did something extraordinary.
At the start of the chase lead pacers Kagiso Rabada and Jansen erred and it looked like Aussies were headed for a romp. David Warner and Head carted the ball around mercilessly, South Africans watching in dismay the mayhem unfold.
The audacious batting approach and bowler-friendly Eden surface saw Australia lose wickets regularly and were 137/5 at one stage that gave South Africans the belief it was time for them to do the unthinkable — snatch victory from the hands of defeat. But the Aussies are masters in overcoming such moments and they did so, crossing the line with three wickets to spare.