Australia were in trouble at 137-5 after Keshav Maharaj bowled Head and fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi struck twice
Team Australia (Pic: AFP)
AUS vs SA, ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final: Opener Travis Head hit a quickfire 62 but Australia lost five wickets in their chase of 213 for victory in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa on Thursday.
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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.
Shamsi!!! Maxwell their best batsman is out!! THERES HOPE OH MY WORD!! CMON BOYS!!🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🕯️🕯️❤️❤️❤️#SAvsAUS #CricketWorldCup2023#ICCCricketWorldCup #Proteas #ProteaFire#WC2023 pic.twitter.com/WMHswBqT8J
— Kai (@MUFC5L) November 16, 2023
Earleri, 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.
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South Africa are trying to reach their first ever World Cup final after faltering in four 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.
If the action falls victim to the weather, then there is a reserve day set aside on Friday. Should no result be possible, South Africa would be declared the winners as they finished higher than Australia in the group phase.
The winners will take on undefeated hosts India, who knocked out New Zealand in the first semi-final, in Sunday's final at Ahmedabad.
(With agency inputs)
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