In a low-scoring thriller that ebbed and flowed, Australia have come out ahead with a clinical 3-wicket win. It’s all too familiar for the Proteas, who have exited in the semifinal against them on two previous occasions.

Temba Bavuma won the toss, and the Proteas batted first on a dicey, two-paced pitch at Eden Gardens. However, it was Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood who inflicted the early damage. SA were reduced to 24/4 – eerily similar to the situation they encountered in 2007.

Fortunately, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller began the rebuild in circumspect fashion. At the same time, both players found the boundary at regular intervals to keep the score moving along. Adam Zampa was at the receiving end of plenty of solid hits.

They had added 95 runs between them, but the introduction of Travis Head’s part time off spin brought forth a priceless breakthrough. Klaasen played down the wrong line and got bowled, and Marco Jansen was trapped in front on the very next delivery.

Miller stuck around with composure throughout the chaos, and Gerald Coetzee was a useful second fiddle. A 53-run 7th-wicket stand was just what the Proteas needed, and it was time to accelerate at the back end.

After carefully batting through much of the innings, Miller shifted gears and brought up his 6th ODI ton. It was a very important knock, as he singlehandedly drove SA to a score to bowl at.

Australia began the chase with the usual free-wheeling start. Travis Head and David Warner wasted no time, as they added 60 runs in the first 6 overs.

But yet again, it was the introduction of spin that began the entertainment. Aiden Markram bowled David Warner, and Mitchell Marsh went without scoring. All of a sudden, the Proteas had reason to believe.

Keshav Maharaj struck on his very first delivery to remove the danger man Head. And when Tabraiz Shamsi trapped Marnus Labuschagne LBW, it was game on like Donkey Kong.

Glenn Maxwell played an ill-advised pull shot and got bowled. At 5 down, there was one more recognized batter remaining. Steve Smith and Josh Inglis eased the pressure with a critical 37-run stand. There was yet another twist when Smith had a lapse in concentration and skied one to the keeper.

Inglis was bowled by Coetzee, giving him his second wicket, but the late strikes were too little too late. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc calmly navigated the next 7 overs and took Australia over the line.

And with this, the South African World Cup campaign has come to an end. An unconvincing display with the bat left them light on runs to defend, and Australia have brilliantly held their nerve to clinch another high-stakes win, making it 8 in a row in this tournament.

SA 212 in 49.4 overs (Miller 101, Klaasen 47 – Starc 10-1-34-3, Cummins 9.4-0-51-3)

AUS 215-7 in 47.2 overs (Head 62 – Shamsi 10-0-42-2)