SA vs AUS Highlights, World Cup 2023 Semifinal: Australia trumps South Africa to secure final spot against India

It was a hard-fought one. But Australia has made it to a record-extending eighth final. And now it will face the unbeaten India in the finale in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Jansen over the wicket against Cummins. Two runs needed to win. Short on the off and Cummins guides it to point fence. FOUR! AUSTRALIA WINS!!!

Markram with the ball. Cummins defends the first two balls. Taps one to long on to take a single. Starc plays out three dot balls. The game drags on to another over.

Jansen with the 46th. Three bouncers to start the over. Fourth ball. Too full and Starc swipes across the line and manages to find the boundary on the leg side. That should be the game for Australia.

Markram gets Cummins’ inside edge. De Kock though can’t complete the catch. South African players go up in exasperation. Two singles from the last two balls of the over.

Coetzee over the wicket against Cummins. Short and blocked away by the Australian captain. Two more dot balls follow. Fourth ball. Cummins scoops it over covers for a single.

South Africa persists with Markram and it almost pays dividends. Cummins chips it to the leg side and it follows narrowly ahead of a diving Miller.

Sharp bouncer from Coetzee. Cummins awkwardly fends at it. The ball lobs and lands in between everyone. Coetzee pitches it up and Cummins slices it behind point for a four. Coetzee misses his yorker. Waist high full toss. No ball and freehit given. Coetzee hits the stumps to prevent further damages.

Markram gets an over. Starc gets a single to get off strike. Markram pins Cummins in the pitch. Cummins taps a single to long off to keep things moving.

Coetzee continues. Starc takes a double first ball of the over. A single brings Inglis on strike. Coetzee peppers him with a couple of bouncers. Then brings out a searing yorker. GONE!!! BOWLED!!

Josh Inglis b Coetzee 28 (49b 3x4 0x6)

Cummins is the new batter and he is hit on the pad straight away. South Africa burns its last review on it. Pitching outside leg.

Maharaj now with his last over. A slip and a leg slip in place for Starc. The left-handed batter defends steadily. Sees of Maharaj without any worries.

Coetzee draws an edge from Starc. But it flies past the keeper and runs away for a four. Coetze surprises Starc with one that rose off a good length. Misses the edge this time.

Last over for Shamsi. Inglis on strike. He leaves the first one. Defends the next two. Shamsi goes around the wicket. Inglis is defiant in his defence. Pitches the next one up and it is driven away for a couple of runs.

Coetzee continues. Pitched up and Inglis smashes him through the covers for a four. Short from Coetzee next and Inglis fends it away for a single.

Shamsi against Starc. Two slips in place as South Africa looks to go in for the kill. Three dot balls to start with. On the pads next and Starc clips it away for a single.

Rabada gets a crack at the two for the 33rd over. Just two runs from the over.

Coetzee with a well-directed bouncer. Smith leaves it alone. A cross-seam delivery from Coetzee. Smith goes for an expansive shot. Top edge. It is a skier. De Kock makes the call and completes the catch.

Steven Smith c †de Kock b Coetzee 30 (62b 2x4 0x6)

Starc is the new batter. He starts with a single.

SA 175/6 in 34 overs

Coetzee with the 32nd. Starts with a couple of dot balls. Smith guides one to third man to take a single. Smith edges one fine enough to beat the deep third fielder. FOUR!!

Maharaj once again. He has a slip in hand. Just three singles from the over as the Aussie batters play Maharaj out with caution.

Coetzee reintroduced. A leg bye brings Smith on strike. Short from Coetzee and Smith pulls it away for a single.

Once again short from Coetzee. Inglis guides it beyond first slip for a four.

Runout chance!!

Miscommunication between the Aussie batters. Inglis is send back by Smith and the latter has to make a desperate dive to get back to the crease. Maharaj scythes one past Smith’s outside edge.

Welcome boundary for Australia. Shamsi drags it short and Inglis carves it through covers for a four. Inglis resorts to defence for the rest of the over.

South Africa continues to attack with Maharaj. Inglis pushes one carefully to covers to get a single. Really slow from Maharaj as he tries to draw Smith out of the crease. Sure-footed defence from the Aussie batter.

South Africa persists with Shamsi. Smith works it to the leg side first ball to take a single. Leg slip in place for Inglis. No mistakes from him. Couple of singles to boot.

Maharaj to continue. Smith gets a single with a punch to deep cover. That’s the only one off the over.

Shamsi for his sixth over. BOWLED HIM! Maxwell is castled by Shamsi and off he goes on celebration run. A delivery at length which Maxwell wants to cut. He makes room but there is too much turn which gets the ball into him and crashes into the stumps.

Glenn Maxwell b Shamsi 1 (5)

Josh Inglis walks to the middle. Gets a nudge to fine leg for two runs.

Maharaj to Smith. Punches the third delivery to deep cover for a run. De Kock is confident Maxwell has handed him an edge off a reverse sweep. The umpire denies it and SA goes up. There is daylight between the ball and the gloves. Just one run from the over.

Shamsi’s fifth over. Labuschagne misses a reverse sweep and the umpire has given him leg before. He instantly goes for a review. It is umpire’s call on the stumps and that will not be enough to save Labuschagne.

Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Shamsi 18 (31)

Glenn Maxwell walks in now. He is beaten on the first delivery. Three runs and a wicket from the over.

Maharaj to continue. Labuschagne sweeps to deep mid wicket for one. Smith steps out and gets a single with a shot to deep cover. FOUR! The sweep from Labuschagne goes wide off the fielder in the deep this time.

Shamsi for his fourth. FOUR! Labuschagne extends his front foot and gets to the pitch, drives it between cover and mid off. A single to fine leg on the fifth.

Maharaj to Labuschagne. Beats the outside edge on the first two deliveries. Bavuma moves into the silly point position. Labuschagne cuts to get off strike. Just one from it.

Shamsi again. Another chance! Smith edges a wrong one but de Kock is not quick enough to get to it as it goes off his thigh. Another tight over, just two off it.

Maharaj for his second. Labuschagne sweeps a full toss but Jansen dives to prevent a four. Smith taps to point for the second single of the over.

Shamsi to Labuschagne. Starts with a wide delivery. A reverse sweep from Labuschagne for two runs. He is caught on the pad on the next and SA has gone up for review. The impact is umpire’s call which save Labuschagne. South Africa is right in the mix here. A wide and a single makes it five off the over.

Keshav Maharaj in now. BOWLED HIM! Head falls. A tossed up delivery prompts a drive from Head, spins into him and goes through his gate.

Travis Head b Maharaj 62 (48)

Marnus Labuschagne off the mark with a single to deep square. Smith picks a single to deep cover. A drive for one run to end the over.

Tabraiz Shamsi into the attack. Smith, in an attempt to ramp the first delivery through fine leg, nearly hands a catch to square leg. Another chance! Head slashes, gets an edge and the ball beats Klaasen at slip. Goes for a boundary to rub salt in the Protea wounds. Eight from the over.

Markram to continue. Head gets a simple single down to long off. FOUR! Smith gets to the pitch and uses his wrists to drive it wide of short cover. Clips the fifth to deep mid wicket for a single.

DROPPED! Gerald Coetzee nearly gets a wicket on his first delivery. Head cuts at a wide delivery. The deep point fielder, Reeza Hendricks, comes into play but puts it down. Two boundaries now for Head - one down long off and one third man. Head gets to his fifty with a third boundary, pulls it over short mid wicket.

Markram to continue. Just three singles in the over as Markram continues to trouble with turn.

Rabada continues. FOUR! Head swings hard at a length delivery and manages to get it over mid on. Head looks to run down a delivery to third man, but the bounce surprises him. Nearly hands a catch to short third. A single on the next. Smith is beaten by a delivery leaving him. Lucky that it gets only the thigh pad.

Markram for his second. Head on strike. SIX! After a streak of four dots, Head breaks the shackles with a slog sweep. A single on the final delivery.

Rabada again. Head square cuts through point but there is a man in the deep to keep the shot down to one run. WICKET! A BLINDER BY DUSSEN, MARSH IS GONE! Marsh cuts it with power but Rassie van der Dussen jumps full stretch to his right to grab that.

Mitchell Marsh c van der Dussen b Rabada 0 (6)

Steve Smith in at No. 4.

Markram castles Warner! Instant impact! Warner wants to make room but gets completely done by the spin.

David Warner b Markram 29 (18)

Mitchell Marsh at the crease now. A wicket maiden.

Rabada for his third. Head clips the first to fine leg and adds a run to his tally. SIX! Warner reads the slower delivery and packs it over mid off. It’s a no ball too and he will have a free hit. SIX on the free hit! Shuffles across, takes it on the full and ramps it over fine leg. SIX from Head! On the pads and Head hits it over cow corner.

Jansen to Head. FOUR! Chips it over mid on and clears the infield. Head goes straight for FOUR. Manages to beat the mid on fielder. SIX to end the over. Another pull shot from Warner to collect six more.

Rabada to Head, a single off the second delivery to third man. SIX! Warner pummels away a slightly back-of-a-length delivery from Rabada.

FOUR to begin Jansen’s second! Opens the face of his blade to get it over point and covers. Another wide from Jansen. Jansen nearly concedes five wides if not for de Kock’s acrobatic effort down leg. The extras count in the over ticks to three with another wide down leg. Jansen not getting the line correct. Manages three dots to finish the over.

Kagiso Rabada to Warner, nips away from the left-hander to beat him. A single to third man next but Warner did not really have an idea where this went. FOUR! A poke from Head outside off takes an edge and flies wide of slip.

Marco Jansen to Head, beaten outside off! FOUR off the second. Lofts it over cover from a length. The fourth is wider and Head chases it for a drive only to miss. A wide makes it five runs in the over.

Travis Head and David Warner for Australia in the middle.

South Africa players seem confident as they scatter away after the team huddle. Will 212 be enough?

A couple of singles from the first two balls of the last over from Cummins. Full from him and Rabada tries to hit it over long on. Maxwell takes a good low catch.

Kagiso Rabada c Maxwell b Cummins 10 (12b 0x4 1x6)

Starc attacks Rabada with a bouncer. The South African takes it on. In fact he times it to perfection. Pulled it deep into the stands. SIX!!! Rabada retains strike with a single last ball.

Miller goes for it again. This time he can’t clear the fence. Travis Head keeps his cool at the boundary line. End of a fantastic knock from Miller.

David Miller c Head b Cummins 101 (116b 8x4 5x6)

No. 11 batter Shamsi survives the last four balls of the over.

SA 203/9 on 48 overs

Length from Cummins and Miller clatters it over mid wicket for a six to bring his hundred. What a knock under pressure.

Full from Starc. Maharaj looks to chip it over the infield. But all he can do is bottom-edge it to Steve Smith at mid off.

Keshav Maharaj c Smith b Starc 4 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Miller and Rabada keep it ticking for the rest of the over.

SA 196/8 in 47 overs

Cummins with the 46th over. Maharaj sneaks in a single to bring Miller on strike. Short from Cummins and Miller gets on top of it. Flat bats it to deep mid wicket. FOUR!!

Couple of quick singles shore up a decent over for the Proteas.

Miller goes back foot against Zampa and hits one to deep square for a four. He adds a couple of runs with a whack to deep extra cover. Keshav Maharaj, the new batter, sees through the last two balls of the over.

Cummins over the wicket. He is relying on his slower balls to get the better of Miller.. Single brings Coetzee on strike.

A well-targetted short ball from Cummins and all Coetzee can do is nick it to the keeper.

Gerald Coetzee c †Inglis b Cummins 19 (39b 2x4 0x6)

Replays show that the ball actually brushed off his shoulder. If South Africa had taken the review, Coetzee would have survived.

SA 174/7 in 44 overs

Cummins brings Zampa on. Miller is a happy man. He waits for the fuller one. Times it to the bones. STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW! SIX!!

Another one on the slot. This time Miller can’t get the timing right. Inside edge onto pads and single is taken.

Pat Cummins brings himself on. Miller hits one to deep extra cover to get two runs. Cummins gets the over under control with a couple of slow bouncers, which Miller can’t get hold off.

Coetzee and Miller trade singles to start off the Travis Head over. A leg side wide gives the Proteas a bonus run. Another quiet over for South Africa.

Coetzee clips one to deep fine to take a single early in the over against Maxwell.

The off-spinner once against beats Miller’s outside edge. Just two runs from the over as Maxwell completes his 10.

Starc is back. Around the wicket against Coetzee. Pitches it up and the South African frees his arms. CLASSY FOUR!! Coetzee pinches a single last ball of the over to retain strike.

Maxwell pitches it up and Miller swings at it. FOUR TO MID WICKET!!

Another one on the slot. But this time Miller can get only a single to long on. Four singles from the rest of the over.

Fourth over for Travis Head. Only two singles from the over. Miller has not been able to find the boundaries in the last few over.

Coetzee takes a single early in the over to bring Miller on strike against Maxwell. Maxwell misses the length for his last ball of the over. A tad short and Miller punishes it for a four.

Head pitches it up and Coetzee smashes it through covers for his first boundary. Positive batting from the right-hander. Head goes around the wicket against Miller. Pitches one on the middle stump line, before spinning it past the batter’s outside edge. CLOSE!

Seventh over for Maxwell. Miller takes a single first ball. Coetzee resorts to defending off his front foot see through the rest of the over. Last ball of the over, Coetzee sneaks in a single.

Travis Head gets another over. He is able to extract some serious spin from this surface. Whizze one past Coetzee’s outside edge. Just two singles from the over.

Maxwell with another over. He spins one past Miller’s outside edge first up.

Maxwell pitches it short and Miller whacks it to the deep extra cover fence. THAT IS HIS FIFTY!! South Africa would love it if he can keep this going.

Travis Head strikes again. He has Jansen rooted inside the crease and spins one in to strike him on the pad. Loud appeals and the umpire agrees. A futile review later, Jansen walks back.

Marco Jansen lbw b Head 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

SA 119/6 in 31 overs

Travis Head gets his first over of the day and Klaasen goes after him straight away. He starts by lofting over extra cover for a four. Not the greatest timing though. Head misses his length next ball. Klaasen pumps it straight back for a four.

But Head has the last laugh. Klaasen misreads the line of a fuller one and he loses his stumps.

Heinrich Klaasen b Head 47 (48b 4x4 2x6)

Maxwell around the wicket against Miller. Gets a dot ball. Miller plonks one to covers to get off strike. Just three runs from the over.

Klaasen pushes one to mid off and sets off a quick single. He almost makes it to the crease, but crashes into Zampa on the follow through. He is back after the team physio had a look.

FULL TOSS!! Miller will put those away all day. HUGE SIX!!

Maxwell drops it short and Miller slices it past point. Couple of runs to the scoreboard. Miller brings out the late cut now, but gets only a single for it. Just two more singles from the over.

Zampa up against Klaasen. A little too short from the leg spinner and Klaasen cross bats him over mid wicket for six.

Zampa repeats his mistake. Klaasen repeats the shot. SIX MORE!!! Ruthless stuff from the South African.

Cummins with the 26th. Miller grabs a couple of easy runs with a push to deep cover. Cummins brings the line closer to off-stump, forcing Miller to defend on the back foot. Five dot balls to close out a good over for the Aussies.

Maxwell again. Driven through covers by Klaasen for a single. Two runs from the over.

Cummins will continue. Steered by Miller to deep third-man for a single. Klaasen misses a flick off the pads. FOUR! Shortish just outside off and Klaasen gets on his toes and cuts this over point for a boundary. That’s also the 50-run partnership between Klaasen and Miller.

Maxwell continues. Huge appeal for LBW first ball of the over as Miller defends after taking a big stride forward but misses the ball. Australia doesn’t take the review, however. Three dot balls to begin the over. Miller then flicks one off his pads for a single through square-leg. Punched back to the bowler off the back foot by Klaasen. Just a single from the over.

Cummins continues and Miller continus shouldering arms in the channel outside off-stump. Cummins is also getting appreciable bounce from this wicket. Just a couple of runs from the over.

Here comes Glenn Maxwell with the ball. Sliding outside leg first ball but Klaasen defends this on leg-side. Cut away next ball for a single. Maxwell comes round the wicket to Miller and attacks the left-hander’s stumps. Just a single from the over.

Cummins comes back after going for 12 in his first over. Single for Klaasen off the third ball as he pushes a length ball to mid-off. FOUR! Length ball on the pads and flicked through midwicket for a boundary.

Miller is receiving some treatment on his finger as he seems to have copped one on the glove in the last over. Zampa will continue. Klaasen takes a single first ball and then Miller continues to defend from the other end. Zampa targetting the stumps relentlessly. SIX! Tossed up on middle stump and Miller smashes this over deep midwicket for another six.

Hazlewood again. Four dot balls to start the over. Miller shouldering arms to anything that is going across outside off. This is on leg-stump but Miller can’t get it away. On leg-stump again and Miller misses the flick. Another maiden over.

Zampa continues. Miller steps out and flicks one off his legs for a single through square-leg. Driven through vacant mid-off for one more by Klaasen. SIX! Tossed up on off-stump and Miller hammers this over deep midwicket for a maximum. A single behind point to end the over.

Hazlewood is back into the attack. Pat Cummins takes himself off. Starts with a good length delivery outside off. Beaten! Klaasen is beaten outside off as this one nips away slightly after pitching. Well driven by Klaasen but straight to the cover fielder. This is left alone in the channel by Klaasen. Confidently defended back to Hazlewood. Maiden over!

Klaasen and Miller are in the middle to resume the match and so are the Australians. Adam Zampa into the attack after the rain break. Tossed up on a length to Miller first ball. A couple of singles off consecutive deliveries for both batters. Beaten! Miller is beaten as the ball turns away from the outside edge. On a length and flat on middle and leg and tucked by Miller to square-leg for a dot ball. Another flick to square-leg and another dot ball to end the over.

And we have a confirmation that play will restart at 3:55 PM IST. Stay tuned as we continue bringing you live action.

Our reporter tells us that the covers are coming off. Live visuals also indicate players are warming up for a restart.

The umpires are on the field to inspect the conditions. The broadcasters tell us it’s just a very light drizzle right now at Eden.

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The covers come on as a slight drizzle settles over the Eden Gardens.

Finally a change in bowling. FOUR! Pat Cummins is greeted into the attack with a four. Too full outside off and Klaasen leans into the drive. Tucked off the backfoot behind square for a couple more by Klaasen next ball. Klaasen taps this to mid-on and pushes for a quick single. Miller was almost gone! He almost chips this straight to the mid-on fielder as the ball stops on him. Steered to deep third for a single by Miller to end the over.

Starc again. Klaasen chips this ball in the air and it goes safely in the gap between cover and mid-off for a single. Going down leg-side and wide called. Full on middle and off and Miller gets it off the inside half of the bat to square-leg fielder. Full and on the pads and Miller cannot flick it away to the boundary. A single now for Miller at fine-leg as the ball flies off the inside half of the bat. Tucked on leg-side by Klaasen for one more.

Hazlewood continues. Klaasen is off the mark with a single after he gets an outside edge that flies to deep third. OUT! Outside edge again and taken at second slip by Smith. Van der Dussen’s struggles finally come to an end. FOUR! David Miller gets an outside edge first ball but it falls short of the slip fielder and runs away to the boundary.

Starc will continue. FOUR! Too full on the pads and Markram clips it through midwicket for a boundary. Wide outside off and Markram plays a well-timed drive but another brilliant save in the covers by Marnus. OUT! Markram get a thick outside edge and taken by Warner at point. Heinrich Klaasen the new man in. He leaves this one that angles across him wide outside off-stump.

Aiden Markram c Warner b Starc 10 (20b 2x4)

Hazlewood. He gets one to hold into the pitch and Markram is hit on the back of his hand as he goes for a pull shot too early. Driven to mid-off for a single off the last ball of the PowerPlay.

Short and very wide outside leg-stump, the ball shoots off the pitch and goes very high; called a wide. Another piece of stunning fielding as Labuschagne dives and stops this from running away to the boundary. FOUR! First boundary for the Proteas. Drifting on the legs and Markram gives South African its first boundary by flicking on leg-side.

Hazlewood continues. Van de Dussen struggling on 3 off 22 balls while Markram is yet to get off the mark. Markram is finally off the mark with a gentle nudge on off-side for a single. Three slips in place now for van der Dussen. Flicked through midwicket by van der Dussen for a single to end the over.

Starc again. Defended to cover by van der Dussen. Three dots in a row again to start the over. The Proteas haven’t been able to get anything away. Beaten! van der Dussen goes for a wild heave to this wide outside off delivery and misses. Third brilliant save by Warner, diving to his left this time, and another dot ball. Beaten again as the ball shoots off the pitch as van der Dussen presents a straight bat to defend. Maiden over.

Hazlewood again. Short of a good length on middle and leg and de Kock defends this to midwicket. Three dots again to begin the over. OUT! de Kock is gone. He was feeling the pressure of dot balls and goes for a wild slog but only ends up skying the ball high in the air and Pat Cummins takes a brilliant catch running back from mid-off.

Beaten! Aiden Markram goes for a cut but is beaten comprehensively as the ball spits off the pitch unexpectedly.

Quinton de Kock c Cummins b Hazlewood 3 (14b)

Starc continues. He gets the first one to swing and then the second delivery is pitched on a good length and van der Dussen defends. Two dot balls to start the over. Van der Dussen shows some intent by driving and Warner dives to stop this in the covers and keep it down to a dot ball. Another brilliant stop by Warner in the covers. Four dot balls on the trot. This is driven through covers by van der Dussen and this goes in the gap for a couple.

Hazlewood continues. He continues to get good bounce and carry from this pitch. Two dots to start the over and then de Kock flicks one for a single on leg-side. Another good stop in the field, this time at point to keep van der Dussen’s punch to a dot ball. Hazlewood gets this one to straighten after pitching on a tight line outsid off and van der Dussen is beaten on the outsid edge. Hazlewood is the only one appealing and the umpire doesn’t budge. Inside edge and a single at fine-leg for van der Dussen, who is off the mark off his 10th ball.

Beaten! Starc pitches it on a perfect length and beats de Kock’s drive. A leading edge now for de Kock as he looks to flick this full delivery on the pads but the ball ends up going to point. Drifting down leg again and de Kock only manages to collect a leg-bye as he misses the flick. Going down leg-side this one and called wide. Van der Dussen squirts a drive back to Starc as the ball is pitched up on off-stump. Left alone in the channel now by van der Dussen, who is yet to get off the mark after six balls. Wider outside off and left alone again.

Josh Hazlewood from the other end. This one is pitched across de Kock and beats his outside edge with some extra bounce. Outside edge on the drive for de Kock and a single at deep third. New batter Rassie van der Dussen is greeted with a bouncer which he evades by yanking his head out of the line of the ball. Full on the stumps now and blocked on off-side by van der Dussen. On a good length this one on middle and off and defended back. This one nips in and beats Van der Dussen. Just one from it.

Ricky Ponting rings the bell at the Eden Gardens to mark the start of the semifinal. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma will expectedly open the batting for the Proteas, while Mitchell Starc will begin proceedings with the ball for Australia.

Starc comes over the wicket to de Kock. Full on middle and defended back to Starc. Two slips in place. Full on the pads and clipped by de Kock for a single. Well-stopped at square-leg. Full on off-stump and Bavuma jams it back to Starc. This is going wide outside off but just inside the tramline to keep the umpire from stretching his arms out wide. On a good length now going across off-stump and Bavuma leaves it alone. OUT! Bavuma hangs his bat on off-stump and gets an outside edge that goes to Josh Inglis behind the stumps. Starc strikes in the first over and South Africa in early trouble.

Temba Bavuma c Inglis b Starc 0 (4b)

The two teams line up on the field for the start of the national anthems.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa wins the toss and opts to bat.

Temba Bavuma: We will bat first. I am not a hundred percent fit. Yes, we did speak about the semifinal jinx but very important to stay in the present. Need to stick to our processes. Shamsi is in for Ngidi.

Pat Cummins: We would have batted first. They play pretty similar style. We have been in these positions before. We have a lot of experience. Guys have been positive in the last seven games. Two changes for us. Stoinis and Abbott are out and Maxwell and Starc are in.

1992 - South Africa beat Australia by nine wickets in Sydney

1999 - Australia beat South Africa by five wickets in Leeds

1999 - Match tied in Birmingham

2007 - Australia beat South Africa by 83 runs in Basseterre

2007 - Australia beat South Africa by seven wickets in Gros Islet

2019 - South Africa won by 10 runs in 2019 in Manchester

2023 - South Africa won by 134 runs in 2023 in Lucknow

Ayan Acharya: The covers come off the square for the second time today. Was a precautionary measure anyway as the players never really left the field of play.

“The square is under cover again as it starts to drizzle. Not heavy enough for players to go off as they continue training,” says Ayan.

Ayan Acharya from the ground: Still gloomy in Kolkata, dare say it looks a touch gloomier than earlier - still no rain. Taking the covers off the entire ground is quite the task... Started at 12.30 pm IST, nearly 30 min later, they are still at it. Aussie and Saf players inspecting the wicket

Matches played - 7

Australia - 3

South Africa - 3

Tie - 1

Last result - South Africa won by 134 runs

With exactly an hour to go for the toss, the groundsmen swing into action. Covers coming off at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Covers are coming off the square now.

- Ayan Acharya

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ODI World Cup 2023: South Africa’s heart-stopping rivalry with Australia may be about to spill over again in land of its rebirth

Come Thursday, Temba Bavuma’s men would hope to move a step closer to a golden chapter in Kolkata, where the country was welcomed back into the sport with love more than three decades ago.

Matches played: 109

South Africa won: 55

Australia won: 50

No result: 1

Tie: 3

Last result: South Africa beat Australia by 134 runs (2023)

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World Cup rewind: What happened in South Africa’s ill-fated 1999 semifinal vs Australia?

“It’s overcast. Whole ground is under covers. It’s not raining now but can’t rule out a late start,” pings Ayan Acharya from Eden Gardens.

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen

Batters: David Warner, Travis Head, Rassie van der Dussen, Mitchell Marsh

All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen

Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee

Team Composition: SA 6-5 AUS | Credits Left: 5

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

There was a heavy rain forecast in Kolkata for today and our correspondent at the Eden Gardens, Ayan Acharya, tells us it has started drizzling.

Hello and good morning to our readers! It is time for the second semifinal of the World Cup where South Africa will take on Australia in a bid to join India in the grand finale in Ahmedabad.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Marco Jansen.

AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins(c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey, Cameron Green.