Captain Pat Cummins on Australia’s form ahead of South Africa world cup semi final
South Africa take on Australia in the second Cricket World Cup semi-final as the two sides meet at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A place against hosts India is at stake ahead of the World Cup showpiece.
The Proteas finished second in the group stages losing twice, firstly in a shock defeat to the Netherlands then in a hammering by India. Australia, meanwhile, came third. Pat Cummins’ men lost their two opening games, against India and South Africa, but went on to record seven straight victories and reach the knockout rounds.
South Africa’s biggest threat comes from their stacked batting line up which has fired them through the tournament so far in and they will have positive memories of facing the Aussies as Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi all impressed during their victory back in October.
However, along with India, Australia are the in-form team of the tournament and look set on claiming a sixth World Cup title. They have shown their quality after a sluggish start and Glenn Maxwell produced the greatest innings of the competition in their victory against Afghanistan.
Follow all the semi-final action below and get the latest odds and tips right here:
Wicket! Klaasen out for 47! b Head – South Africa 119-5
Klaasen has sent Head’s first ball of the day over the off side for four, it looped over the infield and went to the boundary.
He follows it up with another boundary, this time a more textbook shot down the ground.
Klaasen has completely missed one from Head! He has been bowled outside the bat, he just played outside the line, a bizarre wicket.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:25
South Africa 111-4 (30) Klaasen 39, Miller 48, Maxwell 0-12 (5)
Maxwell has not suffered the same treatment as Zampa in the over before, his over went for just three runs.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:22
South Africa 108-4 (29) Klaasen 37, Miller 47, Zampa 0-40 (5)
Australia have a run out chance! A direct hit might have seen the end of Klaasen, but he missed the stumps. The batter collided with Zampa as he tried to make his ground, and has to be looked at briefly by the physios before resuming his innings.
Miller has smashed another six! Zampa has been quite costly today, especially in comparison to the clinical other bowlers.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:19
South Africa 100-4 (28) Klaasen 36, Miller 40, Maxwell 0-9 (4)
Maxwell has been carved away by Miller, is this the start of a South Africa counter-attack? They were 24 for four, and have already done a solid rebuilding job to get this far, but they need runs on the board, and will have to go for it at some point.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:15
South Africa 95-4 (27) Klaasen 35, Miller 36, Zampa 0-32 (4)
Zampa has come back on and gone for another six! Only Zampa has been hit for a maximum so far, and before the semi-finals he was top of the wicket taking charts.
Klaasen follows it up with another six! He is so destructive, you only have to look at his century against England for that!
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:11
South Africa 81-4 (26) Klaasen 22, Miller 35, Cummins 0-27 (5)
Cummins has changed to come around the wicket to Miller and he picks up two runs.
Cummins has gone short, it bounces up, Miller swipes at it, but can’t get anything on it. That was a much tighter over from the captain, just two runs from it.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:08
South Africa 79-4 (25) Klaasen 25, Miller 33, Maxwell 0-4 (3)
Two runs from Maxwell’s last over, both singles, South Africa are slightly settling down into this contest after the early flurry of wickets.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:04
South Africa 77-4 (24) Klaasen 21, Miller 32, Cummins 0-25 (4)
Cummins is into his fourth over, the crowd are chanting for India, no concerns over who they hope will win the final.
Klaasen has a boundary to notch up the 50 partnership, it was a bit short and wide and has gone to the boundary.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 11:01
South Africa 71-4 (23) Klaasen 16, Miller 31, Maxwell 0-2 (2)
Maxwell bowls another tight over, just the one run from it.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 10:58
South Africa 70-4 (22) Klaasen 16, Miller 30, Cummins 0-19 (3)
Klaasen has struggled with his footwork and goes for a big heave into the leg side but doesn’t get anything on it, and fortunately for South Africa it falls short of the incoming fielder.
Just two runs from the over.
Sonia Twigg16 November 2023 10:55
