South Africa vs Australia

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South Africa vs Australia

ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023

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SA vs AUS ODI 2nd Semi-Final, ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023 - Match Info

ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023

2nd Semi-Final

Kolkata

SA South Africa

212/10 (49.4)

AUS Australia

215/7 (47.2)

Australia beat South Africa by 3 wickets

Player of the match

Travis Head - AUS

Match Summary

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Player of the Match

Travis Head

AUS - Batter

Runs

62(48)

S/R

129.16

South Africa

212/10 (49.4 overs)

Top Batter

Top Bowler

David Miller

101(116)

Heinrich Klaasen

47(48)

Mitchell Starc

3-34(10)

Pat Cummins

3-51(9.4)

Australia

215/7 (47.2 overs)

Top Batter

Top Bowler

Travis Head

62(48)

Steven Smith

30(62)

Tabraiz Shamsi

2-42(10)

Gerald Coetzee

2-47(9)

Detailed Commentary

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AUS

Well, it has been a good day if you are a Royals fan. The Paarl Royals head back home next, to Paarl, to take on Joburg Super Kings, on Monday, 20th January, 2025. The Pretoria Capitals on the other hand, travel to Gqeberha, to meet Sunrisers Eastern Cape after a bit of a break, on Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025. We are done from this game, but don't go anywhere. The next game, which is between MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings in Cape Town, is scheduled to begin at 9 pm IST (1530 GMT) but our buildup has already begun. Do head over to that matchcentre!

Victorious captain of Paarl Royals, DAVID MILLER, says that he thought it was a very good wicket and feels unlucky for his bowlers. On the batting, he says that the plan was to build partnerships and take the game as deep as possible. Informs that the changes in the playing XI were purely tactical and is happy that they worked out. Is happy for Rubin Hermann for doing well in his very first game of the season. Praises Joe Root for doing well and calls him one of the best in the world, sharing with us that he and Root enjoy an old bond, having played for Yorkshire in English county.

The captain of Pretoria Capitals, RILEE ROSSOUW, says that they always felt that it was a decent wicket and credits the Royals for gunning through. On taking advice or help, Rossouw credits James Neesham and Kyle Verreynne for helping him out in terms of difficulty. Admits that fielding did let them down in this game.

Paarl Royals' JOE ROOT HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for a wonderful unbeaten 92 (60). Tells that he has been enjoying his time in South Africa, calling it a wonderful place to play cricket. On chasing the target down, Root puts it down to the experience in that batting lineup, citing David Miller as the main man in terms of experience. Details that he only thought about not panicking and taking it deep. Adds that with the ground dimensions being so small, one could always make up for lost time.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, the Pretoria Capitals put on a commanding 212 on the board after electing to bat. Unlike the Royals, the batters had small but meaningful contributions which saw batters try and hit from the word go. Towards the end, they just accelerated into 5th gear, and they would be highly aggrieved if they were to be told that they were 15-20 runs short! Amidst the carnage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman stood out with figures of 4-0-28-2. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

A tough pitch for all the bowlers. Will Jacks actually bowled well with figures of 4-0-33-1 but everyone else went for a tour around the SuperSport Park. Actually, the fielding let them down as well, with plenty of misfields and dropped catches. Rossouw will definitely agree that they could have put in a better effort with the ball.

Who says technically correct batters cannot play this format? Joe Root, one of the finest technicians of the sport, hit an unbeaten 92 in just 60 balls, which had 11 fours and 2 sixes. Yes, early on, he was a bit too eager, trying his reverse ramps and all, but once he found his touch, he was a treat to watch. He batted through, ensuring that there was no collapse.

Well, let's rephrase the previous paragraph. Cannot say a perfect batting masterclass. The event happened so long ago that we totally forgot! Lhuan-dre Pretorius was dismissed on the first ball of the chase but that was all about the joys that Pretoria got. After that, they witnessed a 125-run stand between Joe Root and Rubin Hermann and even though they did break that stand, the platform was set. David Miller then came in and staged an unbeaten 88-run stand for the third wicket with Root and took his side through.

What a thumping win by Paarl Royals. They have moved to the top of the table by gunning down 213. It was a big target to try and gun down but a batting masterclass on a wonderful pitch has seen the Royals come out triumphant.

PAARL ROYALS

213/2 (19.4)

J Root

92* (60)

R Hermann

56 (33)

W Jacks

1/33 (4)

J Neesham

1/40 (3.4)

Over 20

David Miller*

48 (24)

Joe Root

92 (60)

James Neesham

1/40 (3.4)

213/2

19.4

James Neesham to David Miller ,DROPPED! One of the major woes for Pretoria Capitals in the game. Fielding. Full and wide outside off, David Miller reaches out and looks to go inside out. Does not hit it cleanly and the fielder from wide long off gets to the ball with a dive. Takes the catch, but while diving, the ball pops out. The batters take the second and PAARL ROYALS WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 2 BALLS TO SPARE!

19.3

James Neesham to Joe Root ,A full toss, outside off, Joe Root bunts it over the bowler for a quick single. Rilee Rossouw charges across from mid off but does not pick up the ball. A single taken. 2 needed from 3 now.

19.2

James Neesham to David Miller ,That was nearly the game! Down the leg side, Miller clips it fine but cannot get it past short fine leg. A run taken. 3 needed from 4 balls now.

19.1

James Neesham to David Miller ,FOUR! That halves the runs required! A length ball, outside off, David Miller heaves it through mid-wicket and finds the boundary! Just 4 more needed from 5 balls now.

Who bowls the final over? 7 to defend. James Neesham has been given the ball. 3-0-32-1 so far. Square leg, short leg, short third, backward point and cover are up. Some more changes to the field now. Backward point goes to sweeper.

Over 19

Joe Root*

91 (59)

David Miller

41 (21)

Tiaan van Vuuren

0/51 (4)

205/2

18.6

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,Another slower ball, outside off, Joe hits it back to the bowler. Tiaan van Vuuren finishes with figures of 4-0-51-0.

18.5

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,FOUR! The target comes into single figures now! Full and wide outside off, Joe Root reaches out, opens the face of his bat and guides it to the left of short third! Moves to 91 (58) and that is his 11th four. The stand moves to 80 (43). 8 needed from 7 balls now.

18.4

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,Another slower ball, on a length, outside off, Joe goes for a mighty swing but misses.

18.3

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,Finds mid off again. Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Root slaps it to the left of Rilee Rossouw at mid off. Root goes for the suicidal single and had Rossouw connected with the direct hit, Root was a goner by miles. Add to it, the bowler was in the way of Root too. But instead, the throw misses its mark and the batters run the second, on the overthrow to deep square leg. 200 UP FOR PAARL ROYALS! 12 more needed from 9 balls.

18.2

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,A full toss, outside off, Joe Root drives it straight to mid off.

Oh dear. The keeper, Kyle Verreynne has hurt his ankle now. That extra run has not gone well with the Capitals. James Neesham has gone up to Joe Root to actually question how could the batters run the overthrow with a player injured. A never-ending debate. Verreynne is good to continue.

18.1

Tiaan van Vuuren to David Miller ,A length ball, around middle, David Miller turns it through mid-wicket. The fielder from deep mid-wicket gets to the ball with a dive and keeps the batters to a couple. But the keeper overruns the throw to his left and the ball goes through, facilitating an overthrow. Three in total. Miller moves to 41 (21).

Could this be the final over of the match itself?

Over 18

Joe Root*

85 (54)

David Miller

38 (20)

Migael Pretorius

0/29 (3)

196/2

17.6

Migael Pretorius to Joe Root ,A short ball, outside off, Root looks to pull but gets a thick inside edge onto his body. 10 from the over, 52 in the last 4.

17.5

Migael Pretorius to David Miller ,On middle and leg, David slips over but manages to flick it through mid-wicket for a run.

17.4

Migael Pretorius to David Miller ,FOUR! Precise like a surgeon! A length ball, outside off, Miller reaches out and punches it through the covers. Sweeper cover moves to his left, long off to his right, but neither can get there! The stand moves to 70 (36). 18 more needed now, from 14 balls.

17.3

Migael Pretorius to David Miller ,Full, outside off, David Miller blasts this through the covers. The fielder gets across to his right in the deep and keeps the players to a couple.

17.2

Migael Pretorius to Joe Root ,Around off, hit through mid-wicket for a single.

17.1

Migael Pretorius to Joe Root ,DROPPED! Is that the game? A length ball, around off, Joe Root looks to whip it through mid-wicket. The ball nearly goes in the gap between long on and deep mid-wicket but Marques Ackerman sprints across to his right from long on, dives, gets to the ball, takes the catch, but while diving, it pops out! Two runs taken.

Migael Pretorius returns. 2-0-19-0 so far.

Over 17

Joe Root*

82 (51)

David Miller

31 (17)

Tiaan van Vuuren

0/42 (3)

186/2

16.6

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,Outside off, swung through mid-wicket for a run. 13 from the over, 42 in the last 3.

16.5

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,Outside off, Root gets a long way across, reaches out and drives it through the covers for a couple. Moves to 81 (50). The stand moves to 60 (31). 29 more needed from 19 balls.

16.4

Tiaan van Vuuren to Joe Root ,FOUR! LUCKY! Moral victory for the bowler but that's what he is looking for. A length ball, outside off, Joe Root swings hard to go over mid on but plays a touch too early. Gets a thick inside edge which goes past the stumps, into the fine leg fence!

16.3

Tiaan van Vuuren to David Miller ,Similar ball, this time the flick finds deep mid-wicket. A run taken.

16.2

Tiaan van Vuuren to David Miller ,FOUR! 50-STAND UP IN 28 BALLS! A poor ball, a half volley down the leg side, David Miller flicks it through square leg and finds the boundary. Miller moves to 30 (16) with his second four.