In a gripping encounter that had cricket fans worldwide at the edge of their seats, South Africa&#8217;s spirited performance wasn&#8217;t enough to secure victory over a determined Australian side in the World Cup clash.



Kolkata&#8217;s iconic Eden Gardens played host to an enthralling battle of cricketing titans as South Africa squared off against Australia in a contest that promised high drama and delivered in spades. Despite a gallant effort from the Proteas, it was Australia who emerged victorious in this World Cup thriller, marking yet another chapter in South Africa&#8217;s history of heart-wrenching near-misses on the global stage.



As the sun set over Kolkata, casting long shadows across the pitch, the air was thick with anticipation. The Proteas, known for their resilience, faced an Australian team brimming with confidence and tactical acumen. The match unfolded as a narrative of twists and turns, echoing the unpredictability of the sport itself.



South Africa, batting first under the commanding presence of captain Temba Bavuma, started cautiously. The early overs were a testament to Australia&#8217;s bowling prowess, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood exploiting the conditions masterfully. The Proteas&#8217; top order wobbled under the relentless pressure, losing crucial wickets in quick succession. The specter of past collapses loomed large as murmurs of &#8216;chokers&#8217; began to surface among the crowd.



However, the tide turned with the arrival of David Miller at the crease. In a display of sheer will and skill, Miller anchored the innings with a magnificent century, resurrecting South Africa&#8217;s hopes. His 101 off 116 deliveries, punctuated with powerful strokes and calculated risks, became the backbone of the Proteas&#8217; fightback. The Eden Gardens crowd, always appreciative of cricketing brilliance, rallied behind his effort, creating an electrifying atmosphere.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="675" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1796971064.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60256" style="width:818px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1796971064.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1796971064-300x198.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1796971064-768x506.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Temba Bavuma of South Africa looks dejected while walking on the field following defeat in the ICC Men&#8217;s Cricket World Cup India 2023 Semi Final match between South Africa and Australia at Eden Gardens on November 16, 2023 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Australia&#8217;s chase, in response, was a rollercoaster ride. The Proteas&#8217; bowlers, fueled by Miller&#8217;s heroics, struck with purpose. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj bowled with heart, keeping the Australians in check. The match teetered on a knife-edge as each team vied for dominance.



Travis Head and David Warner provided the initial impetus for Australia, forging a partnership that threatened to take the game away. But just when the momentum seemed to be shifting, South Africa&#8217;s bowlers struck back, reining in the Australian charge. The match ebbed and flowed, with each over adding a new layer of intrigue.



In the end, Australia&#8217;s depth and experience shone through. Despite a valiant effort in the field, South Africa couldn&#8217;t hold back the Australian tide. The match concluded with Australia securing victory, leaving the Proteas to reflect on what could have been.



As the players shook hands and the crowds began to disperse, the Proteas&#8217; journey in this World Cup came to an end, not with a whimper, but with a display of cricketing tenacity that will be remembered by fans and players alike. For Australia, the road to glory continues, their eyes set firmly on the prize. In the aftermath of the clash, both teams can hold their heads high. Australia, for their unwavering pursuit of victory, and South Africa, for a performance that, despite the outcome, spoke volumes of their character and skill.

South Africa v Australia: Semi Final – ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023

South Africa’s Valiant Effort Falls Short Against Resilient Australia In Thrilling World Cup Showdown

The Proteas have a reputation of dropping the ball at the
final moment. The team hope to make important changes as they prepare for the
Cricket World Cup.



South Africa’s search for what is becoming their ‘Holy
Grail’ will continue in May when they contest the Cricket World Cup that is to
be played in England and Wales, providing another shot at a trophy that has
frustratingly eluded them in the past.



The Proteas have entered World Cup tournaments as heavy
favorites in the past, indisputably the best team on the planet at the time,
yet found unusual ways to be eliminated, leading to the tag of ‘chokers’ that
has haunted the team for two decades now.



In 1999, they got themselves into a winning position against Australia in their semi-final, yet gave up their final wicket to a crazy run-out needing just a single run for victory.



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Four years later, on home soil, they misread the
Duckworth-Lewis par score after rain in a pool match against Sri Lanka and did
not realize they needed one more run than they had.



In 2007, they folded in the West Indies when too many of
their top players could not find form, while four years ago, they gave up a
commanding position to lose a semifinal to New Zealand, made all the more
galling as South African-born Grant Elliott proved the match-winner for the
Kiwis.



The failures of the side have almost become part of cricket
folklore, with opposing fans delighting in throwing the choker tag at South
Africa at every opportunity.



So what chance of a change in 2019? It is the first time in perhaps 27 years that South Africa do not go in as one of the genuine pre-tournament favorites, with England and India many people’s top tips, and with good reason as both have been outstanding in 50-over cricket of late.



An evolving South Africa could have as many as 10 players in
their 15-man squad who have never been to the World Cup before, and while that
lack of experience could be a hindrance, it could also be a help in that they
will not carry the ‘baggage’ of past failure. 



Captain Faf du Plessis will go to his third tournament and
he knows what to expect in terms of media and fan pressure over past failures
on his players.



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“As soon as you get to the tournament, you get to hear about
it,” Du Plessis tells FORBES AFRICA. 



“When you chat to the media that is all people want to talk
about, when you play against opposition, they will bring it up.



“For me now, it is about making players aware of it and
giving them ways to deal with it, to mentally preparing for it, so that when we
do get to England, it is not a surprise.”



Du Plessis believes that managing key moments in games
better than they have in the past is the key to success, as well as making sure
the players stick to their game-plans and don’t try to be ‘supermen’.



“For the last year or so we have been dealing with different
aspects of that. Hopefully, when we get there, we will manage those situations
better than we have previously.



“We have played some really good cricket at tournaments in
the past, but we have always had little moments in the game where pressure got
the better of us. 



“How do you fix that? How do you deal with it? How do you
cope in those moments?



“I hope that by talking to players, by giving them a ‘how’
of dealing with those moments, they will handle them better than we have in the
past.”



The make-up of the South African side has been the subject
of much debate, but the picture is clear for Du Plessis –&nbsp; if everybody is fit. Three fast-bowlers, a
spinner and seven batsmen, which includes an all-rounder, is the preferred
make-up, with the swinging ball likely to dominate the bat.



When all are available, the South African side generally
picks itself, but the return of fast bowler Lungi Ngidi from injury is key. 



“If you have a very good bowling attack that can get
wickets, then you put yourself there or thereabouts,” Du Plessis says. 



“India have got a really good bowling attack at the moment
and are bowling teams out constantly. 



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“If we have a full-strength team, we also have a very good bowling attack. We have missed Lungi recently. I feel that if you have Lungi, Dale [Steyn] and KG [Kagiso Rabada] together, it makes our bowling attack a lot stronger. 



“They are all wicket-takers and that is what winning in
white ball cricket is about.”



With Andile Phehlukwayo having moved ahead in the race for
the all-rounder spot and JP Duminy likely to return from injury in time for the
tournament, giving a -part-time spin option, South Africa’s&nbsp; first choice side looks strong.



But do Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Du
Plessis, Duminy, David Miller, Phehlukwayo, Rabada, Steyn, Ngidi and Imran
Tahir have the look of world champions? Time will tell. 



The Proteas open their campaign against England at The Oval on May 30, with all 10 teams playing each in a round-robin format. The top four sides then advance to the semi-finals, with the decider to be played on July 14.



&#8211;Nick Said

Tag: Cricket World Cup

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South Africa’s Valiant Effort Falls Short Against Resilient Australia In Thrilling World Cup Showdown

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