Australia were in trouble at 137-5 after Keshav Maharaj bowled Head and fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi struck twice in quick succession
Temba Bavuma reacts after Australia beat South Africa by three wickets (Pic: AFP)
AUS vs SA, ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final: South Africa's feisty bowling attack summoned all the discipline and accuracy to leave Australia's top-order crumbling but fell short of defending a lowly total during rain-hit semi-final on Thursday.
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Australia wobbled after Travis Head's 62 in Kolkata but Steve Smith (30) and Josh Inglis (28) helped the five-time champions reach their target with 16 balls to spare and make their eighth final.
After Thursday, South Africa have faltered in five semi-finals including two against Australia in 1999 and 2007. They played impressive cricket in the group phase where they won seven of nine matches. In their win against Sri Lanka, they piled up a World Cup record of 428-5.
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Earlier, opener Travis Head hit a quickfire 62 but Australia lost five wickets in their chase of 213 for victory. Head and David Warner, who hit 29, started strongly before South Africa struck back. Aiden Markram bowled Warner and Kagiso Rabada sent back Mitchell Marsh for a duck as Head, who was dropped on 40 and 57, looked to bat on.
However, Australia were in trouble at 137-5 after Keshav Maharaj bowled Head and fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi struck twice in quick succession. The left-arm wrist spinner trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 18 and bowled Glenn Maxwell for one in his next over.
In the first innings, David Miller hit a defiant century to help rescue South Africa after rain interrupted the action at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc returned figures of 3-34 after South Africa had been reduced to 24-4 at one stage before Miller and Henrich Klaasen (47) staged a recovery under gloomy skies.
The left-handed Miller reached his ton in 115 deliveries with a six off Pat Cummins but the Australian captain dismissed him two balls later on 101. The innings folded soon after in 49.4 overs.
(With agency inputs)
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