After some time, Australia and South Africa will meet in the second semi-final in the fight to reach the final. The match will start at 2:30 PM at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
So far, South Africa has played in the semi-finals four times in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 World Cup. But never got the final ticket. Due to reverse losses, got the nickname ‘Chokers’. Today they want to lose this ‘chokers’ title after losing Ajid. On the other hand, Ajira wants to confirm the final by avenging the loss of the group stage. They want to win their sixth World Cup title.
In the group stage, both teams played 9 matches and won 7 matches each to confirm the semifinals. Despite losing to the Netherlands and India, South Africa won in 7 matches. Temba Bavuma’s team was ahead in runs in almost every match in the tournament. On the other hand, Ajirao is in a great rhythm after winning seven matches in a row after two consecutive losses. In spite of losing 7 wickets for only 91 runs, Australia finally left the field with victory in Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten innings of 201 runs.
Today’s match will be held at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Eden Gardens pitch is very good for batters. But this pitch also has advantages for spinners. Pacers won’t get much help from here. Once the batters are set, it will not be easy to stop them from scoring runs. The team that wins the toss may decide to bowl first.
And since the pitch is spin-friendly, South Africa can reduce one pacer in this match and take another spinner in their squad, Tabrez Shamsi, in the eleven. Meanwhile, as the Australian team lacks spinners, they have to rely on pacers. Maxwell and Starc did not play in the last match against Bangladesh. They will return against South Africa.
South Africa Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Temba Bavuma (captain), Rasi van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Janssen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabrez Shamsi.
Australia Probable XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh English (wicketkeeper), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
(November 16/NBW)