Australia trump South Africa to enter eighth ODI World Cup final
SUMMARY: Australia 215 for 7 (Head 62, Shamsi 2-42, Coetzee 2-47) beat South Africa 212 (Miller 101, Klaasen 47, Starc 3-34, Hazlewood 2-12) by three wickets
Australia is through to the World Cup final after a tension-filled three-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata.
After bowling South Africa out for 212, Pat Cummins’ side made a flying start, with Travis Head hitting a quickfire 62 before they were pegged back by the Proteas spinners and slipped to 137-5.
Australia edged closer but lost their seventh wicket with 20 runs still needed, and although the pressure continued to build, Cummins and Mitchell Starc kept their cool to complete a hard-fought victory with 16 balls to spare.
The Proteas had been reduced to 24-4 following superb new-ball bursts from Josh Hazlewood and Starc before David Miller rescued the innings with a determined 101 from 116 balls.
But despite a valiant effort in the field, it wasn’t enough, and Australia advanced to face India in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad. (BBC)
