The Proteas, after putting 311 on the board, skittled Australia for 177 to claim a 134-run victory in Lucknow in their second World Cup match.
It was an incredible team effort from the Proteas, who read the conditions perfectly.
South Africa lost the toss and was sent in to bat first by Australia.
After looking at the wicket, Temba Bavuma at the toss was not too phased by losing the toss. He said that he was a little uncertain about wicket, but the selection of two spinners indicated the Proteas’ thinking that the pitch would offer some reward for the spinners.
The pitch report indicated that 270 would be a par score, but with the form that the Proteas have been in, the aim was to post as many runs on as possible to put the pressure on an Australia side that lost their opener to India.
The Proteas openers took their time to get themselves in on the red-soil wicket, seeing off the initial swing from Mitchell Starc and accuracy from Josh Hazelwood.
Bavuma and De Kock aimed to build a foundation for the middle order, and they did so smartly to bring up 108 before the skipper lost his wicket on 35.
De Kock followed up his performance from the opening game against Sri Lanka, bringing up back-to-back centuries.
Then Markram followed up his performance in the first game after scoring the fastest ton in World Cup history, scoring 56 off 44 balls. These two performances accounted for the bulk of the runs scored.
Rassie van der Dussen (26) and Heinrich Klaasen (29) both got starts, but Australia were good with their execution to disrupt momentum with wickets at pivotal stages in the game.
At 267-5, the Proteas would have had their eyes set on 300-plus.
Jansen’s 22-ball 26 helped them to 310 and Miller (17) lost his wicket that saw the Proteas reduced to 311-7, which was their final total.
Their application with the ball backed up a decent batting performance.
It started with perfect execution from Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen in the powerplay, followed by a ruthless performance from a fired-up Kagiso Rabada and supported by a clinical Keshav Maharaj. They toppled the Australian top 6 for 70 runs. Ngidi, Jansen and Maharaj took one apiece at this stage, while Rabada took three wickets.
Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc’s 69-run partnership frustrated South Africa for longer than necessary, but Jansen dismissed Starc for his second. Australia were 139-7. Labuschagne lost his wicket shortly after for 46, Maharaj picking up his second.
South Africa took a while to finish off the game, as Pat Cummins frustrated the Proteas further with a string of boundaries,
Shasmi took two wickets to finish things off to bowl the Aussies out for 177 and claimed a 134-run win.
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