2nd Semi-Final: South Africa vs Australia at Kolkata, Nov 16, 2023
Australia won by 3 wickets
AUS 215/7 (47.2)
SA 212/10 (49.4)
RR: 4.54
Last 12 Balls: . . 1 . . . | . 4
Current Partnership: 21 runs, 7.3 overs, RR: 2.8 (Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc )
Last Wicket: Josh Inglis 28(49)
Pat Cummins: I think it was easier out there than sitting in the dugout. Nerve-racking a couple of hours but it was good to get the result. Wasn't expecting Starc and Hazlewood to bowl so much early. We knew it was going to spin later on but there was a bit of cloud cover so wasn't too disappointed about bowling first. We talk a lot about our fielding, probably wasn't up to standard at the start of the tournament but we were fantastic today. Specially Warner who's 37. Travid Head was the man today, to take that crucial wicket in the middle overs. Inglis played that beautifully, he looked in total control out there, especially against two quality spinners. Few of us have played in a final before, couple of other guys in a T20 World Cup, the stadium is going to be packed, mostly going to be one-sided but it's about embracing it. 2015 World Cup was one of the highlights of my career, never thought I'd be here playing another World Cup final in Mumbai.
Temba Bavuma: Cannot put it into words, first of all congratulations to Australia. Good luck to them in the final. They played really well today. Our character came through today. We should a lot of resilience. The way we started with the bat and the ball was the telling point, that's where we lost the game. The conditions combined with the quality of their attack was it, they really put us under pressure. You're always going to struggle to put up a competitive total when you're 24/4. We were gaining some momentum when Miller and Klaasen were out there but unfortunately he couldn't carry on a bit longer. Miller's innings was superb, really highlights the character of the entire team, it was extraordinary to do that in such a pressure situation and in a world cup Semi-final. They got 70-odd in the first 10 and that really allowed the rest of the guys to settle. Markram and Maharaj were fantastic and they really put them under pressure. We had chances, tough chances that we put down, it could've been a bit close had we held on to them. As a young guy, he really was the warrior for us, there wasn't much happening for the seamers then but for him to come around the wicket and to take the wicket of Smith was incredible. He was cramping but he still wanted to keep bowling. Quinton would've probably wanted to end his career on a different note, despite the result I think he'll remember his time. He'll go down as one of the greatest in South African cricket.
Travis Head, Player of the Match: Hard to unpack all of that. Tensed finish, amazing game. Didn't move from the seat for the last. We knew how it was going to play, we had three or four days here. We haven't seen such spin, we knew we had to battle. I thought I wasn't going to be here (after the hand injury), but I am happy to contribute for Australia, nice to be here. Straight as they came. He (Klaasen) smacked me, was under the pump, but it was nice to get his wicket. I was prepared to bowl a few overs, always keen to contribute with the ball. We have had that positive approach to keep the pace rolling. Disappointed for the way I got out, that (vs Maharaj) was a match up against a left-arm spinner, but wasn't to be. It's an unbelievable attack, their bowlers look sharp and they have been one of the best teams in the competition, never dreamed of playing a World Cup final against them.
Australia won by 3 wickets and they are through to yet another World Cup final
47.2
4
4
Over 47.2 Marco Jansen bowls a good length delivery to Pat Cummins, Boundary! Gets back and opened the face of the blade, uses the pace and beats backward point and it races away to the fence
47.1
0
0
Over 47.1Marco Jansen bowls good length delivery to Pat Cummins, goes back and defends it towards the bowler.No runs
