straight up, and that will be that. Australia have tumbled to a 134-run defeat, and South Africa have been full value for their victory! Given plenty of air on middle and leg. Hazlewood tries to tonk it into next week. Loses his shape completely and skies it. Rabada calls early from short mid wicket and puts Australia out of their misery!
South Africa vs Australia, 10th Match at Lucknow, World Cup 2023, Oct 12 2023 - Match Result
9.52pm So, it's played two won two for South Africa, who are top of the pile on NRR after a pair of crushing displays against Sri Lanka and Australia, +2.36 to lead a cast of four teams with 100 percent records. It's a brilliant, composed start to a below-the-radar campaign, and with the Netherlands next up, they'll surely believe that can only get better before England swim into their sights in what already promises to be a gripping encounter in Mumbai next Saturday.
As for Australia, they are looking down the barrel already. Minus 1.85 NRR, and only Afghanistan below them, whom they don't play until the penultimate round of the group stage. Next up, a must-win against Sri Lanka, whose batting at least has looked ten times as proactive as this line-up. Troubling times for the serial world champions. From Miller, Shashwat, Chandan et al, thanks for joining us, see you tomorrow for Bangladesh-New Zealand!
9.45pm Time to hear from the captains. First up, Pat Cummins: "Quinny batted really well, from where they were we were happy with 310, we felt it was chaseable. It looked like hard work out there at night, zipped around now, but we were well off the mark. If we want to be challenging for this tournament you've got to adapt to all conditions. Not much needs to be said tonight, everyone's hurting. Got a few days until the next one here, so we'll try to make amends. A few things to tidy up."
Temba Bavuma "311 was a couple over par, 290-300 was par, glad to lose to the toss cos things worked out in our favour. I was scratching around so Quinton needs to be credited a lot. I'd be really greedy if I said there were areas to improve, a near-perfect game with the bat, and with the ball, looking at all the phases, the guys dominated and showed their skills. Got to acknowledge the batting effort, being over-par, and we were clinical with the new ball, then KG following up with intensity, then the spinners. Character is the biggest thing we talk about, and we showed it today. Let's enjoy the individual performances, then come back tomorrow and find ways to get better and better as a team."
9.40pm Quinton de Kock is Player of the Match: "A great win for the boys, assessed conditions well, played accordingly, stuck to our strengths and came out on top. They were potent up front, so we assessed our scoring options. Definitely thought it was above-par, seen from the Lucknow team it gets harder at night and it did prove that. 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, won't get too high, just take it game by game."
Prashant: "From 1992 to 2015, South Africa was almost always considered on paper the team to beat, always packed with top players, but never completely matched the hype and gained a 'choker' tag. This world cup, it did not feature in top 4 teams of many, but might end up surprising all by not only being in top 4, but even ending up as a winner or a runner up." Indeed, they are happily under the radar, and seem all the happier for the lack of expectation going in... right now, they are high-fliers.
9:34pm South Africa have given Australia a real pasting and a proper hiding. The margin of defeat, in fact, could have been much greater had Labuschagne and Starc not mustered a 69-run partnership. That was about it from an Australian batting perspective, and that sort of sums up what was a dire batting display overall.
As inept as Australia looked with the bat, credit must be given to how South Africa bowled, especially when the ball was darting around. Jansen and Ngidi picked up a powerplay wicket each before Rabada ran through Australia's middle order, scalping Smith, Inglis and Stoinis - although two of them involved some contentious calls.
The spinners then did the rest, rarely allowing Australia the luxury to break free. Maharaj bagged a wicket, with Shamsi eventually closing out the game. South Africa now have two wins out of two, and they are looking a very well-oiled unit.
back of a length outside off. Hazlewood hops back and dabs it through the vacant point region to get off the mark
Slip in place
Hazlewood in at 11, with Australia needing 137 more for victory...
straight to long off, Shamsi has his first! Dangles the carrot on off stump and Cummins cannot resist the temptation to have a pop at it. Swings through the line but does not quite time it as well as he would have liked. In fact, it comes off the bottom half of the bat and Miller makes no mistake at long off! Shamsi immediately pointed to de Kock. Maybe it was a plan to toss it up, after all!
fuller and slightly flatter on leg stump. Zampa works it towards deep square leg for one
looped up nicely on a length on middle and off. Zampa aims for the moon and misses the ball by a mile
40 overs up. Australia need 138 off 60 balls. For what it is worth, South Africa can now have five fielders outside the circle.
length on middle and off. Zampa swings like a rusty gate again and this time, squirts it behind square on the leg side off the inside edge
back of a length on middle and leg. Zampa gives himself room and punches it powerfully through mid on for a couple of runs
shortish outside off. Cummins cuts it towards deep cover point for one
AiyoPol: "Cummins, back in India - would love to see him conjure up another 14 ball 50" -- That might get Australia close, but perhaps still not enough to win this game...
length delivery hung outside off. Zampa backs away and throws the plumbing at it. Slices it down to third man and gets a single for his toil
another beauty! In the channel again. This one decks away, opens up Zampa completely and breezes past his outside edge
another play and miss! Hard length, in the channel just outside off. Zampa nibbles at it without any foot movement and gets beaten on the outside
quicker and fizzier on a length on off. The ball turns and bounces sharply, cutting Cummins in half and ripping past the inside edge. Good take by de Kock too!
a bit of a drag-down on leg stump. The ball, though, just does not arrive, meaning that Cummins, looking for the pull, swings too early and fails to make contact
full outside off. Zampa gets down on one knee and hoicks it towards deep mid wicket for a single
back of a length on off. Zampa splices it down to mid off
length delivery on off stump that grips and spins back significantly. Zampa just about accounts for it and plays it back to the bowler
back of a length just outside off. Zampa hangs back and pushes it towards short extra cover
another short delivery, this time well outside off. Cummins swishes at it but only connects with fresh air
sharp bumper on off stump. Cummins gauges the length early enough and sways out of the way
short and wide outside off. Cummins stands up tall and punches it crisply past extra cover for a brace
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | |
Toss | Australia, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | ODI no. 4667 |
Hours of play (local time) | 14.00 start, First Session 14.00-17.30, Interval 17.30-18.00, Second Session 18.00-21.30 |
Match days | 12 October 2023 - daynight (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | South Africa 2, Australia 0 |
Over 41 • AUS 177/10