In a high intensity match, the last of the 45 round robin fixtures, reigning Champions Australia stumbled to a 10 run loss against a 'nothing to lose' South Africa, who came out all guns blazing, albeit a tad late for this World Cup, to secure a winning end to the ODI careers of JP Duminy & Imran Tahir.
Electing to bat, the opening pair of Markram & de Kock blazed to 79 runs, before Markram left for 34 runs in the 12th over. de Kock got to 52, but it was Capt du Plessis & van Dussen who really built the innings with a 3rd wicket partnership of 151 runs, to secure an imposing total of 325 for 6 in their quota of 50 overs. du Plessis got his century while Dussen missed his by 5 runs. Both scored at will to put forward the best batting display by the Proteas for this tournament, & for a winning cause this time, something that was missing at the crunch stages of their campaign.
In reply, Aussies were in trouble, as Finch lost his wicket to Tahir in the 3rd over, who set off on his customary running celebrations across the field - a scene that the cricketing world would miss in ODIs ahead. Khawaja, in next, pulled a hamstring & hobbled out, & Smith gout out LBW to Pretorious soon. Stoinis & Maxwell, also left quickly after getting their eye in, thanks to some moments of fielding brilliance from de Kock behind stumps, & the mighty Australian batting lay in tatters at 119 for 4 in the 25th over. Warner, however dug deep & along with Carey, stuck a 108 runs partnership for the 6th wicket, to bring his team back into reckoning, before Morris took a blinding catch at mid on to remove the maverick opener for a fantastic 122 runs. Never to give in, Carey slugged it out for a quickfire 85 in just 69 deliveries, but, when he holed out to Morris in the 46th over, the fightback was virtually over. Khawaja limped in, but there were no more drama, as Australians were all out for 315 in the penultimate ball of the match - It was an excellent display of competitive cricket, between two giants of this game, where 640 runs were scored & the results decided only in the second last delivery of the game.
South Africa were victorious by 10 runs, & their broad grinning faces, reflected a sigh of relief to end their campaign on a winning note, while Australia would now have to regroup & plan for the semis, as also find solutions to the injury issues of Khawaja, Stoinis & Starc - all important cogs in their wheels to success.
At the end of the round robin, India being on top of the points table, will meet New Zealand on tuesday at Old Trafford, while Australia will face hosts England in the 2nd semifinal on thursday at Edgbaston. Faf du Plessis made his prediction that it will probably be an India vs England finals !!
Electing to bat, the opening pair of Markram & de Kock blazed to 79 runs, before Markram left for 34 runs in the 12th over. de Kock got to 52, but it was Capt du Plessis & van Dussen who really built the innings with a 3rd wicket partnership of 151 runs, to secure an imposing total of 325 for 6 in their quota of 50 overs. du Plessis got his century while Dussen missed his by 5 runs. Both scored at will to put forward the best batting display by the Proteas for this tournament, & for a winning cause this time, something that was missing at the crunch stages of their campaign.
In reply, Aussies were in trouble, as Finch lost his wicket to Tahir in the 3rd over, who set off on his customary running celebrations across the field - a scene that the cricketing world would miss in ODIs ahead. Khawaja, in next, pulled a hamstring & hobbled out, & Smith gout out LBW to Pretorious soon. Stoinis & Maxwell, also left quickly after getting their eye in, thanks to some moments of fielding brilliance from de Kock behind stumps, & the mighty Australian batting lay in tatters at 119 for 4 in the 25th over. Warner, however dug deep & along with Carey, stuck a 108 runs partnership for the 6th wicket, to bring his team back into reckoning, before Morris took a blinding catch at mid on to remove the maverick opener for a fantastic 122 runs. Never to give in, Carey slugged it out for a quickfire 85 in just 69 deliveries, but, when he holed out to Morris in the 46th over, the fightback was virtually over. Khawaja limped in, but there were no more drama, as Australians were all out for 315 in the penultimate ball of the match - It was an excellent display of competitive cricket, between two giants of this game, where 640 runs were scored & the results decided only in the second last delivery of the game.
South Africa were victorious by 10 runs, & their broad grinning faces, reflected a sigh of relief to end their campaign on a winning note, while Australia would now have to regroup & plan for the semis, as also find solutions to the injury issues of Khawaja, Stoinis & Starc - all important cogs in their wheels to success.
At the end of the round robin, India being on top of the points table, will meet New Zealand on tuesday at Old Trafford, while Australia will face hosts England in the 2nd semifinal on thursday at Edgbaston. Faf du Plessis made his prediction that it will probably be an India vs England finals !!
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