So, it’s finally time for the all-important semi finals of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. South Africa will clash with Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in semi-final two. South Africa ended the group stage in the number three position with seven wins. Australia are one place below them with the same number of wins and defeats. However, they are in better form currently, having won seven games on the trot.
VENUE FOR AUSTRALIA-SOUTH AFRICA SEMI FINAL MATCH
The pitch is one of the better batting surfaces in the country, it also offers quite a lot of help for the spinners as the match goes on.
Average 1st Innings Score: 244
Average 2nd Innings Score: 227
TEAM PREVIEW
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa will be proud of the way they have played in this World Cup. Barring that shock defeat to Netherlands and that humiliating 243-run loss to India, they have been quite dominant throughout. Their biggest strength is their batting unit when they bat first. However, chasing certainly makes them jittery. This is something they will have to be careful of as they enter the knockouts.
It goes without saying that Quinton de Kock will be their main batter to look out for in the semifinals. At the end of the league stage, he is the second-highest run-getter in the competition, with a staggering 591 runs in his bag at an average of 65.66. De Kock has smashed four centuries in this edition, and the team would love it if he could score one more here.
Rassie van der Dussen (442 runs in 9 innings at an average of 55.25) and Aiden Markram (396 runs in 9 innings at 49.50) are the other two consistent batters of the team who have held the middle-order together.
Heinrich Klaasen is an impact player and has been striking it at 140 in this competition. He loves playing against spinners and can be the one who can take on the in-form Adam Zampa.
South Africa has a well-rounded bowling attack, led by the dependable and experienced Kagiso Rabada. The talented fast bowler has taken 29 wickets against Australia at an average of 24.96. Gerald Coetzee, however, has been the standout bowler for the team this year, grabbing 18 wickets at 19.38. Marco Jansen was expensive against India at the Eden Gardens, but he has the knack for picking up wickets and can have a role to play.
On this slow Eden wicket, Keshav Maharaj’s spell will be really crucial. He bowled a splendid spell against India here and is sure to ask questions from the Australian batter.
EXPECTED XI OF SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA
Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
AUSTRALIA
They say you should never count Australia out in a World Cup. They say the truth. After they had lost their first two games at this World Cup, many had written them off. However, they have scripted the most remarkable of comebacks and stormed into the semis on the back of seven consecutive victories. They are certainly in the zone now.
They have a power-packed batting unit this time and bat deep. David Warner has been among the runs throughout the tournament and has collected 499 of them so far at an average of 55.44.
Then there is Mitchell Marsh, fresh off a spectacular unbeaten 177 from 132 balls against Bangladesh. His outstanding effort helped Australia seal a target of 307 with almost six overs to spare.
Travis Head hasn’t really gotten going after that whirlwind fifty against New Zealand, but he is an attacking batter and even a quick cameo from him can be impactful.
The Aussies will also expect some runs from the experienced Steve Smith. He hasn’t exactly set the tournament alight, but his technique will be useful in the middle overs on this wicket.
Australia’s bowling hasn’t been all that impressive, bar Adam Zampa’s splendid performance. The leg-spinner is topping the bowling charts this World Cup, having bagged 22 wickets at an average of 18.90.
This wicket will also provide assistance to Australia’s seamers, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc. it remains to be seen whether they can apply pressure to the mighty South African batting unit.
EXPECTED XI OF AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne/Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
PREDICTION FOR THE GAME
Australia are always dangerous in the knockouts and will be flying high on confidence right now with their winning streak