Australia defeated South Africa by 3 wickets in the second semi-final played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday. South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. The team was all out after scoring 212 runs in 49.4 overs. In reply, Australia achieved the target by losing 7 wickets in 47.2 overs.
The start of the match was not good for South Africa. The team lost 4 wickets in the powerplay. David Warner took a quick catch and dismissed Aiden Markram. At the same time, Adam Zampa and Heinrich Klaasen clashed with each other during the match. Whereas, 13 runs were scored on one ball of Kagiso Rabada.
David Warner took a quick catch and dismissed Aiden Markram. Mitchell Starc was bowling in the 11th over. On the fifth ball of the over, Starc bowled a length ball outside off to Markram. Markram tried to play a shot on this ball but the ball hit his bat and went to the backward point on the off side. Standing at the backward point, Warner stretched his body and took a brilliant quick catch while leaning towards the left.
During the 29th over of South Africa's innings, there was a collision between Heinrich Klaasen and Adam Zampa during the match. On the second ball of the over, Clausen drove on the off side and ran quickly to take a single. While taking the run, he collided with Zampa who was following through. Clausen's helmet hit Zampa's shoulder and he got injured. The South African physio came immediately to examine Clason and conducted an examination. Clason continued batting.
Till the 31st over of South Africa's innings, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were playing aggressively. During this, captain Pat Cummins turned to Travis Head. Head started bowling from round the wicket and on the very first ball, Clausen played a shot towards extra-cover. Clawson hit it to mid-off for four runs before defending the third ball of the over. On the next ball of the over, Clason could not predict the turn and was clean bowled in front of the head.
After Clason came Marco Jansson. Head gave flight on the very next ball and this ball hit the front pad of Marco Yanson. Head appealed and Yanson was out. Yanson took a review on this which went to waste.
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada gave 13 runs on one ball. On the third ball of the sixth over, Australian opener David Warner hit a six in front of Rabada. The umpire gave it a no-ball. On the next ball, Warner hit a brilliant six towards fine leg. In one ball, Rabada gave 12 runs of six and one run of no ball.
Australia made a great start in the first 6 overs of the powerplay. Travis Head and David Warner scored 60 runs in 6 overs. Rabada gave 21 runs in the sixth over. After this, captain Temba Bavuma made a change and brought part-time bowler Aiden Markram to bowl. Markram was spun on the very first ball of the over. Warner could not predict this and got bowled while trying to play a straight shot.
In Australia's 15th over, Travis Head was bowled on Keshav Maharaj's dream ball. Head tried to drive on the second ball of the over. He was in position, but Maharaj's ball took a turn and was head bowled. The kind of ball that Maharaj bowled is the kind of ball a spinner always dreams of bowling.
South African player Van der Dussen took a flying catch. Marsh drove on the fourth ball of Rabada in the 8th over. The ball went towards cover, where Van der Dussen dived and caught the ball.
Gerald Cooties bowled a short ball to Head on the first ball of the 12th over of Australia's innings. Head played it towards deep point. Reeza Hendricks came running from the sweeper cover and dived, but due to not estimating the fall of the ball correctly, he could not complete the catch.
Apart from Hendricks, Bavuma caught Smith in the 13th over, Clausen caught Head in the 14th over, De Kock caught Smith in the 18th over and Cummins was caught again by De Kock in the 43rd over.
Marnus Labuschagne got a lease of life on the umpire's call and was also out. Jeevandaan came in the 16th over when Tabrez Shamsi came to bowl. On the fourth ball of the over, Shamsi got a big turn, turning the ball well outside the off stump. It went straight to Labuschagne's back pad.
South Africa appealed and umpire Richard Kettlebrough gave him not out. South Africa took review. It was observed that the wickets were heating, but the umpire's call came on impact. Labuschagne got life support.
Shamsi again made Labuschagne LBW in the 22nd over. The umpire gave it out. Labuschagne immediately took the review. The review showed that the ball hit the leg stump and was on the umpire's call. For this reason Labuschagne had to return to the pavilion.
Australia was completely in the game till the 45th over. The team needed 10 runs in 47 balls. The ball was given to Aiden Markram. Australia had 7 wickets. Pearl Pat Cummins stepped forward and played the second ball of the over. The ball hit the edge of Cummins' bat, but wicketkeeper de Kock could not catch it. Seeing this, Markram became emotional and tears started coming from his eyes.
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