South Africa bat first against Australia in World Cup semi-final

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the second semifinal of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday (16), with the five-time champions Australia, trying to keep the Proteas grounded as they’re looking to build on World Cup Finals hope.

The teams are set to take each other on at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, at 2.00 p.m. today (Nov. 15).

South Africa will look to make their first World Cup final and book a date with unbeaten hosts India on Sunday, November 19.
    

Nevertheless, South Africa have never progressed beyond the semifinals of the tournament, impeded by a combination of bad luck and nerves, but they have looked formidable this time, winning seven of their nine group matches.

Australia has also shown consistent form during this year’s tournament, winning seven matches in a row. Australia secured seven wins, with two losses to the Netherlands and India. They defeated South Africa earlier in the tournament, maintaining a commanding lead of 134 runs.

Records have tumbled for both teams with Glenn Maxwell beating Aiden Markram’s highest individual World Cup score last week.

Meanwhile, Stephen Smith will probably be benched by Australia for this game. Glenn Maxwell is expected to rejoin the team for the semi-final. The experienced Australian batsman hasn’t scored many runs in this competition. In addition, Mitchell Starc is ready to rejoin the squad and take Sean Abbott’s place.

There will also be some modifications for South Africa. For this game, Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen are probably going to make a comeback, and Andile Phehlukwayo and Gerald Coetzee, who were in the last game, are probably going to be benched.

Playing 11

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: De Kock, Bavuma (captain)/Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.