South Africa examined their nerves in opposition to a well-recognized foe on an unfamiliar pitch on Thursday and got here out with flying colors on each counts. Their thumping 134-run victory, nonetheless, left five-time champions Australia coping with a mini disaster after dropping their first two video games within the 2023 World Cup marketing campaign.
South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock run between the wickets in the course of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match in opposition to Australia.(ANI )
All eyes have been fastened on the Ekana Stadium pitch, untested because it was relaid in April. Australia skipper Pat Cummins received the toss and put South Africa into bat, cautious of how it will behave. The considerations appeared to have stemmed from criticism following low scores in worldwide and IPL video games.
South Africa left Australia to take care of all these worries, powering to 311/7 after amassing a report 428/5 within the 102-run opening recreation win over Sri Lanka in Delhi. Quinton de Kock led the best way like he did in opposition to Sri Lanka, following upon his 100 with 109, his first two centuries in World Cup video games following simply 4 fifties in 17 earlier matches. Aiden Markram hit a 44-ball 56, tame in comparison with his 49-ball century, the quickest in Cup historical past, within the first match.
Australia dropped catches and misfielded on the sphere. Their batters then fell to tempo and spin to be bundled out for 177 in 40.5 overs, levelling the head-to-head report at 3-all. South Africa’s tempo trio of Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada left Australia struggling at 50/3 inside the first 10 overs. None of the Australia batters might construct any resistance in opposition to the disciplined South African assault.
Mitchel Marsh supplied an easy catch to skipper Temba Bavuma off Jansen, David Warner was caught lashing at a brief ball from Ngidi and Steven Smith was trapped leg-before by Rabada following a 3rd umpire evaluation. Josh Inglis was cleaned up by Rabada, Glenn Maxwell supplied a return catch to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and Quinton de Kock caught Marcus Stoinis off Rabada, lowering Australia to 80/6 after 20 overs.
Marnus Labuschagne, who top-scored with 46, and Mitchell Starc (27) delayed the inevitable, elevating a gradual 69 for the seventh wicket. Cummins too tried arduous, nevertheless it made no distinction as Australia’s battle led to 40.5 overs.
De Kock from whom the bottom is second house as he performs for Lucknow Super Giants, let his bat do the speaking with an excellent 106-ball 109 (8×4, 5×6). From his first 4 within the fourth over, guiding a rising supply from Josh Hazlewood to level, he neatly paced his innings, capitalising on Starc’s tempo to launch a six over deep backward sq. leg within the fifth over.
Alongside Bavuma, the 30-year-old de Kock, taking part in in his final World Cup, posted 53 runs within the first powerplay. Bavuma hit two fours in a 55-ball 35 as they raised a 108-run partnership. De Kock hit back-to-back sixes off Josh Hazlewood earlier than he reached his century.
Rassie van der Dussen, who with Markram scored centuries in opposition to Sri Lanka, and Heinrich Klaasen didn’t make a huge impact. However, Markram performed an anchoring innings, scoring a tremendous 56 off 44 deliveries (7×4, 1×6) after he was dropped by Cummins on his observe by way of.
Australia’s sub-par fielding – they dropped two different catches late within the South Africa innings – and bowling made South Africa batting look chic. Apart from part-time off-spinner Glenn Maxwell (2/34), the Australian bowlers struggled. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa had an off-day, conceding 70 runs in his 10 overs earlier than lastly dismissing Van der Dussen.
“A great win for the boys, we assessed conditions well and played accordingly. We stuck to our strengths and came out on top. They were potent up front, so we assessed our scoring options,” de Kock stated after the emphatic win.
“I definitely thought it was an above par score. I have seen from the Lucknow team, it gets harder to bat at night and it did prove to be the case. It was sweaty and humid, but the bowlers bowled with intensity, didn’t give them a sniff up front. We are pretty pleased with ourselves. But only two games in, anything can happen, and quickly. We won’t get too high, we’ll just take it game by game.”
After the 2 consecutive losses, Australia face the daunting job of regrouping for his or her subsequent match in opposition to Sri Lanka on the identical venue on Monday. Another loss may jeopardise their possibilities of securing a spot within the semi-finals, placing stress on Pat Cummins and his group.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
