South Africa vs Australia, Semifinal 2
ICC World Cup, 16 November, 2023, 2 PM IST, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
It is semifinal time in the ongoing World Cup. The top four teams in the league stage will now battle for the elusive trophy. While India and New Zealand will lock horns in the first semifinal, it will be a repeat of the 1999 ad 2007 WC semifinal in the second with Australia facing South Africa.
The match will take place at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16 (Thursday) and will commence at 2 PM IST.
Australia vs South Africa head to head stats and records ODI 2023
The fight for the fourth place was immense in the league phase even as it was almost clear perhaps a few days before itself that South Africa and Australia will finish second and third in the points table, respectively.
It has been a fantastic campaign for the Proteas under Temba Bavumaโs captaincy so far. They began their stint with a thumping win over Sri Lanka and then thrashed the Aussies in their next game before shockingly going down to the Netherlands. However, they regrouped quickly to notch up four consecutive wins over England, Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand.
They hard a tough day at the office against the hosts India but then ended their league stage on a high with a win over Afghanistan. Having defeated Australia in the league phase once before, the Proteas will be confident going into this encounter.
As for Australia, they have been on a stunning winning streak after a disastrous start. Perhaps, after losses to India and South Africa to start with, nobody gave them even a chance to finish in top four. But since then, Pat Cummins and his men have won seven matches on the bounce getting better of – Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Netherlands, New Zealand, England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
It has been a surreal last few weeks for Australia with players like Glenn Maxwell putting up extraordinary performances and stepping up in desperate times for the side. With all the players available to feature too, the Aussies are certainly looking like a team to beat and will be extremely confident to step in for victory at the Eden Gardens.
Clearly, the South Africa vs Australia prediction is not at all easy for any expert at this stage as the winning momentum is with both sides right now. The passionate crowd in Kolkata will certainly enjoy this encounter which will certainly go down the wire.
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for Australia: W-W-W-W-W
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for the South Africa: W-L-W-W-W
Top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket history
Contents
SA vs AUS Match Preview
South Africa
South Africa have largely fielded a settled playing XI in this tournament while just swapping Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi depending on the conditions. The surface at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata has certainly assisted the spinners this time around.ย
Marco Jansen was rested in the previous game and he is expected to come back at the expense of Andile Phehlukwayo. It also remains to be seen if Shamsi returns for Coetzee who has rocked this World Cup with his pace.
Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Quinton de Kock
Probable Best Bowler: Keshav Maharaj
Probable Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee/Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Australia
Australia chased down 307 runs in less than 45 overs against Bangladesh in Pune to end their league stage on a high. They are looking set for the big show down. The five-time champions rested their key pacer Mitchell Starc for this match and he should come back in the line-up for Sean Abbott.
However, the bone of contention for them would be Maxwellโs fitness who played the magical knock of 201* against Afghanistan with cramps and bad back. If he is fit to take the field, then Australia will have to take a call over which player to drop.
With Smith also getting runs at number four against Bangladesh, it is very likely that Labuschagne will be left out for the crunch game.
Probable Best Perfomers
Probable Best Batter: Mitchell Marsh
Probable Best Bowler: Adam Zampa
Probable Playing XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
๐๐ ๐ฏ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐
With the final 4๏ธโฃ teams being confirmed, we will be eagerly awaiting our old foe๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐บ
๐ 16 November 2023
๐ Eden Gardens, Kolkata
๐ 10h30Back The Boys ๐ช#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/UVgjvDQwfX
โ Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 11, 2023
Pitch Report and Expected Weather Conditions for SA vs AUS
The Eden Gardens has shocking assisted the spinners a lot in the World Cup. Even the previous match played at the venue between England and Pakistan witnessed a massive turn for the spinners, especially in the second half of the game. This will tempt the team winning the toss to opt to bat first.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata ODI Records
Total Matches: 33
Match Won batting first: 23
Match won bowling first: 15
Average 1st innings score: 244
Average 2nd innings score: 199
Expected weather condition: Well, there are chances of rain on Thursday in Kolkata with conditions expected to be cloudy. Moreover, the forecast is for showers in evening which will test both teams as well. The temperature will hover in the range of 25 to 27 degrees Celsius during the match.
South Africa vs Australia Dream11 Match Prediction
Wicket-keepers: Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock
Batters: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rassie van der Dussen, Steve Smith
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen
Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Keshav Maharaj
Recommended Captain: Mitchell Marsh
Recommended Vice-captain: Quinton de Kock
With two of the best teams facing each other in this match, it is not easy to pick this Dream11 Fantasy team. De Kock is a must-pick player for this game while Klaasen can only be selected if South Africa are batting first.
Among batters, Warner, Marsh and Van der Dussen are considerations, but you can choose one between Smith and Head. If Klaasen is not selected, you can go for both Smith and Head too. You are spoilt for choice in all-rounders and bowling department, but it is imperative to pick both spinners – Maharaj and Zampa.
South Africa vs Australia win prediction: Australia to win
Australia are certainly the favourites to win this match as they are on a stunning seven-match winning streak. But South Africa will be keen on scripting history after missing out on making it to the final of the 2015 World Cup.
