In a thrilling encounter at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Australia secured a hard-fought victory over South Africa by three wickets, securing their spot in the final ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Chasing a target of 213 runs, Australia exhibited resilience, achieving the milestone with seven wickets down in 47.2 overs.

Opener Travis Head played a pivotal role in Australia’s victory, scoring a match-winning 62 runs, including 9 fours and 2 sixes, in 48 balls. He collaborated with David Warner to establish a solid 60-run partnership for the first wicket. Steven Smith and Head added another crucial 45 runs for the third wicket, ensuring Australia’s steady progress towards their target. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins contributed unbeaten runs to seal the win.

On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were the standout performers for Australia, securing three wickets each. Jas Hazlewood and Travis Head also made significant contributions, claiming two wickets each.

South Africa, opting to bat after winning the toss, posted 212 runs in 49.4 overs, attributed mainly to David Miller’s remarkable innings of 101 runs off 116 balls. Despite a shaky start, Miller and Henrik Klaasen forged a substantial partnership of 95 runs for the third wicket.

This semi-final clash marked Australia’s third consecutive victory over South Africa in World Cup history. Unfortunately for South Africa, their semi-final woes continued as they failed to advance to the final.

Australia’s journey to the final involved a remarkable turnaround, with seven consecutive wins in the league stage after initial setbacks. South Africa, on the other hand, secured their semi-final berth by finishing among the top two teams in the World Cup group stage. In the preceding five-match series, Australia had faced a 3-2 defeat against South Africa, adding an extra layer of significance to their World Cup encounter.

With this victory, Australia now sets their sights on their sixth World Cup title, undefeated in the last eight matches following initial setbacks. The five-time champions are now set to face India in the final, who earned their spot by defeating New Zealand in the first semi-final.