Match No. 11
12th October 2023: 14.00 Hrs. IST
Atal Behari Bajpai Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
A bright sunny afternoon, the city of Kebab & Nawabs Lucknow and a wonderful match between Australia and South Africa. It’s a new pitch and nature of the pitch is unpredictable. But seems a flat one, which may help batsmen and match may be a high scoring one.
South Africa will try to capitalise on their first victory to get two more points. On the other hand, Australia is searching for its first victory in the ICC World Cup 2023. We were expecting stands full of spectators but only around 35-40% of the stands were filled.
Australia won the toss and sent South Africa to bat first. Quinton De Cock and Temba Bavuma opened the inning. In the 16th over, De Cock had completed his 3rd fifty of World Cup on just 51 balls. South Africa reached the 100 run mark in 17.4 overs without losing any wickets.
The Australian skipper tried 7 bowlers to get the breakthrough but South Africa are scoring comfortably with a run rate of around 5.5 per over.
Glenn Maxwell had got the breakthrough for Australia in the 20th over, when he sent Temba Bavuma back to the pavilion. Bavuma has scored 35 runs off 55 balls and SA is 108/1 in 19.4 overs.
After a good 50 runs partnership with Quinton De Cock, Adam Zampa Sent Van Der Dussen to pavilion. Dussen was caught on long on by substitute player Abbott and before leaving the crease Dussen has scored 26 runs on 30 balls. South Africa now 158/2 after 28.3 overs. Now, one of the three century makers of the first match by South Africa against Sri Lanka, Aiden Markram came to bat with Quinton De Cock at no. 4.
Quinton De Cock has completed his consecutive century in the on-going World Cup by hitting a huge SIX over square leg.
His century came on 90 balls and South Africa 171/2.
Player of the Match: Quinton De Cock
Glenn Maxwell, in his 8th over gave break through to his team by taking wicket of terrific looking Quinton De Cock. De Cock has scored 109 runs on 106 balls and in the process he hits 8 fours and 5 huge SIXES. South Africa is 197/3 after 34.5 overs.
Next was to go to pavilion was Heinrich Klassen 29 off 27 balls, who was caught by Josh Inglis off Josh Hazlewood in his 8th over. South Africa now 267/5 after 44.1overs.
Marco Jansen, before caught by David Warner off Mitchell Starc, scored 26 off 22 balls. In the same over, Mitchell Starc struck again and this time the victim was David Miller, bowled for 17 runs. It was the 50th over of the inning and Mitchell Starc’s 9th over.
Finally, South Africa has put on 311/7, on the scoring board after completion of their 50 overs quota. Australia needs 312 in 50 overs to win their first match in this World Cup.
Australia’s fielding was not as per their reputation. Many miss fielding were seen though out the inning and 8 possible catches were dropped by them. On such a big platform, this is not expected by a team which is known for their fielding skills.
Australia's Batting
David Warner & Mitchell Marsh came to open Australian inning to chase target of 312 runs.
For South Africa, Marco Jansen gave breakthrough in the 6th over by sending Mitchell Marsh to pavilion when he was on 7 and Australia 27/1 in 5.5 overs.
In the very next over David Warner was sent back to pavilion by Lungi Ngidi. Warner gone for 13 off 27 balls and Australia 27/2 after 7 overs.
Steven Smith was trying to build the inning but in 10th over Kagiso Rabada find him in front of wicket and after DRS taken by South Africa, third umpire declared him LBW. Australia in trouble now, 50/3 in 9.5 overs.
Kasigo Rabada, once again, in the very next over bowled out Josh Inglis, when he was on 5 off 4 balls and Australia 56/4 after 11.1 overs.
Miseries of Australia not ended here only. On the first ball of 17th over, Keshav Maharaj caught Glenn Maxwell on his own ball, a simple return catch in follow through. And Australia, 65/5 after 16.1 overs.
In 18th over Marcus Stoinis (5 off 4 balls) was caught behind by the wicket keeper Quinton De Cock and the bowler was Kasigo Rabada. The decision was taken by the 3rd umpire, though batsman was not satisfied with the decision and even other commentators were of the view against the decision of 3rd umpire. Batsman was unlucky; the umpire’s decision is the final. Australia was only 70/6 on the board after 17.2 overs.
69 runs partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc came to an end in 34th over when Starc was caught behind by De cock off Kasigo Rabada, when his score was 27 (51 balls) and Australia 139/7 after 33.3 overs.
In the very next over, Marnus Labuschagne, who was one stroke behind his fifty, was sent back to pavilion by Keshav Maharaj, when he was caught in the covers by Bavuma. Now, Australia was 143/8 after 34.4 overs.
In 41st over, first was to go skipper Pat Cummins on 22 (21 balls) and finally Josh Hazelwood for 2 runs (2 balls). Both wickets were taken by Tabraiz Shamsi in his 8th over and Australia all out for 177 in just 40.5 overs.
South Africa won this match comfortably by 134 runs and placed themselves on Top of the table with +2.3 NRR.
Overall, it was a very ordinary rather mediocre performance by Australians in every department of the Match. Captaincy of Pat Cummins was also a big concern.
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