It’s time for the semi-final showdown between Australia and South Africa at the Mecca of India, Eden Gardens, Kolkata! Australia, having won 7 consecutive matches in a row is well determined to make the cut to the final, which is to be played on 19 November in Ahmedabad.
While South Africa, who won their last league game against a formidable Afghanistan team, is set to play their 2 nd game at Eden Gardens, wary of the fact that they lost to India in the last match they played here.
There are plenty of positives for both the teams as well. Both Australia and South Africa batters are bamboozling high by creating records of their own in this World Cup. And the highlight of this key clash is the contrasting form of the bowlers from both teams. While Australia have leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who currently is their leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets in 9 matches, the 2nd most wickets from Australia are by Josh Hazlewood, with 12 wickets in 9 matches.
South Africa’s pacers have set their guns blazing with pacer Gerard Coetzee leading the charts with 18 wickets from 7 matches while pacer Marco Jansen with 17 wickets in 8 matches. Spinner Keshav Maharaj has 14 wickets from 9 matches played.
Predicted XI: -
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerard Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
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Players to check out from each team:
Quinton de Kock: The 2nd highest run-scorer of this World Cup so far, will he add another century against Australia and level with Rohit Sharma for scoring a joint-most number of centuries (5) in a single edition of an ODI World Cup? He scored 109 runs against the same team in the league team, can he replicate the same form with confidence?
Glenn Maxwell: It will be interesting to watch Glenn Maxwell’s contribution in this match as he scored a superficial 201* against Afghanistan in a run-chase, however, his batting average is just 9.69 in 14 ODI’s played against South Africa. South Africa would have taken note of his stats and Maxwell has an opportunity to improve.
Ironically, Maxwell has taken 11 wickets in 14 ODI’s played against South Africa, the 2nd most against an opponent after 15 wickets against England in ODI’s.
Australia vs South Africa Head-to-Head:
With both teams facing each other 7 times in the ODI Cricket World Cup platform, the Proteas have won 3 times, while Australia won 3 times, and once it tied.
In the Semi-Finals of the ODI World Cup, Australia met South Africa twice (1999 & 2007), with the 1999 ensuring a tie and Australia winning on the basis of ranking in the Points Table, while Australia won the 2007 Semi-Final.
Match Particulars:
Date: 16 November 2023
Time: 2:00 PM IST
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Pitch Report & Toss:
The Eden Gardens has produced a double-paced wicket in this World Cup. Spinners have got enough assistance as well and pacers have got enough swing here in hot and humid conditions. India once scored 300+ but in vain. No one has won the match here while chasing this World Cup so far, so expect the team winning the toss to bat first here.
Dream XI: -
