[ad_1]
Welcome to our live coverage of Australia’s World Cup semi-final clash with South Africa from Kolkata.
Australia started this World Cup with losses to India and South Africa, and after rattling off seven straight wins, have the chance to avenge one in the hopes of making the final.
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION LIVE AS IT HAPPENS
7:40PM: THE WORLD CUP MASTER STRIKES EARLY
Mitch Starc has not had the tournament he would have liked, but he gets a dream start in the semi-final, knocking over the South African skipper with the sixth ball of the game.
A vintage Starc delivery drifts across the right-hander, thick edge and safely into the hands of Josh Inglis.
What a start to this one!
Bavuma battled hamstring concerns all week, at least for batting purposes that won’t be an issue now.
van der Dussen comes to the crease, who has played exceptionally across the tournament.
No secret of course, but Quinton de Kock is the wicket all Aussie cricket fans will be chasing early on.
The left-hander has been sensational at this tournament, whacking four centuries across the competition.
7:15PM: MARNUS WINS SELECTION BATTLE IN HUGE SEMI-FINAL CALL
Marnus Labuschagne has won the selection battle over Marcus Stoinis for the final spot in Australia’s XI for the World Cup semi-final.
Australia has chosen to go for extra batting depth over an additional all-rounder.
It is overcast but the rain has stayed away for now.
Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell return at the expense of Stoinis and Sean Abbott.
South Africa will bat first after winning the toss, with weather coming into some consideration of Temba Bavuma’s decision.
South Africa has made one change, dropping Lungi Ngidi for Tabraiz Shamsi.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins said he would have batted if he had won the toss.
Labuschagne is an incredible story. Missed out on the 18-man squad and about to play his 18th straight ODI since that squad was named.
Unfortunately for Stoinis he just hasn’t contributed consistently enough with bat or ball to demand a spot in the XI. He has left himself vulnerable and it has cost him in the end.
For all the talk of splitting formats, Australia’s XI for the World Cup semi-final features eight of those who played the fifth Test at The Oval in late July.
Battle on two fronts: Australia’s plan for SA, rain revealed
A developing cyclone in the Bay of Bengal has threatened to derail Australia’s tilt for a sixth World Cup crown, with rain forecast at stages on both Thursday, the day of the match, and the reserve day on Friday.
Should tonight’s World Cup semi-final match be washed out, South Africa would advance as the higher-ranked side from the league phase – with the winner to take on India, after their demolition of New Zealand last night.
But captain Pat Cummins said Australia would not premeditate the weather, playing the scenario as it comes.
“One website tells you something, and another website tells you the opposite. It’s something you think about,” Cummins said.
“We’ll turn up, expect to play a 50-over match, and if that shifts on us well (we’ll deal with it).”
Meanwhile, Cummins says his players will draw on experience from previous title wins in the clash with South Africa, spurred on by Glenn Maxwell’s heroics having given them “an extra leg”.
Five-time winners Australia went down to the Proteas in the league stage by 134 runs before they won seven straight matches to make the semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.
Australia, who lost an ODI series in South Africa in September, have beaten their rivals twice in World Cup semi-finals.
“You start from scratch every time you play,” Cummins said.
“They’re a team we’ve played quite a lot and know quite well.
“I think what helps us is we’ve got a lot of guys that have been in this situation before that have won the one-day World Cup, T20 World Cup, various other tournaments in big moments.
“So, I think that really helps. You can draw on that in the middle of the contest.”
[ad_2]
