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South Africa

The Aussies hold on tight v South Africa by three wickets thanks to Pat Cummins & Mitchell Starc as they’re in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final against India this Sunday

by Sports Benches November 16, 2023

It was a close one but the Aussies are through to the Cricket World Cup final now following their three wicket win last night v South Africa. They might have lost the toss where Australia were asked to bowl/field first, having fired off with four early wickets. Then the David Miller show has turned things around for South Africa off the back of his hundred before Australia bowled all out for 212, which sets up a 213 run chase to win. Now the strong starts are there as seen with Opener Travis Head’s quickfire 48 ball-62 before Australia were in real trouble by a thread as the game goes on. However, they never gave up by keeping it simple & that was enough to see them leapfrog South Africa at the finish line when Captain Pat Cummins provided them the winning runs like he did in the 1st Ashes Test v England at Edgbaston earlier in June this year. Now they will be up against the host nation Indian side at Narendra Modi Stadium this Sunday in Ahmedabad, who still has been unstoppable all along so far including their 70 run win the other day (Wednesday) during semi-final 1 v New Zealand. It’s going be one hell of a game to finish off the 2023 Cricket World Cup as it’s better for the Aussies to win the toss by batting first or they will have a hard time against the Indian batters who will score big before being able to win another World Championship on home soil since 2011 when India were the previous World Cup hosts alongside Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.

Unlucky from South Africa when their Opening and top order batting attack didn’t work well as expected with the exception both middle-order batters in Heinrich Klassen & David Miller. Yes, the bowling wasn’t bad with Gerald Coetzee & Tabraiz Shamsi on fire but then just not enough to stop the Aussies under pressure, especially when it’s a low scoring game. If their Top 4 batters did so well, then the final could’ve been easily been theirs as SA is one of the few teams who have still yet to play in a CWC final. Meanwhile, it’s the eighth time now that the Aussies are in the main event since its inception in 1979. Hats off to Captain Cummins and Mitchell Starc who can both do a bit of everything where they were not just good off their fast bowling but also with the bat as well. Plus, Travis Head has been amazing since his recent return from injury where he will try to stay there as long as he can with the hope of a big hundred looming v a top Indian team. Now it’s up to the rest of the XI to stop this unbeatable opposition at their own backyard. Let’s hope so as they’re still the most successful team in the history of the Cricket World Cup with five trophies before hoping to finish off this weekend with title No.6, having last won back in 2015.

November 16, 2023 0 comment

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Australia’s sloppy fielding gave South Africa the upper hand with 300 + runs while still poor with the bat on what has been another loss to reflect at the 2023 Cricket World Cup

by Sports Benches October 12, 2023

After two games so far, Australia has still yet to record a win in the 2023 Cricket World Cup following back-to-back losses v India and now South Africa. Yes, they won the toss by choosing to field/bowl first from skipper Pat Cummins. However, their fielding displays has been extremely poor when a few catching opportunities were supported to be taken, but then dropped it that should’ve held back South Africa’s batting card. Instead, Quentin De Kock has scored his 100 while Opening partner Temba Bavuma didn’t do bad before Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen & David Miller finished off the team’s innings nicely past the 300 mark (311-7).

Then the tables turn on our batsmen to try & respond to that big total of 312 being set by South Africa. Unfortunately, SA has proved to them that catches win matches – the line Pommie Mbangwa always says on commentary – including some great calls they’ve made too when appealing a review. The Aussies were way out of hand likewise with the bat that saw them being bowled all out for 177 before SA take home the win by 134 runs. So far, so good from the Proteas who made an explosive batting performance led by Quinton De Kock, while they were excellent not just with the ball but also on the field that led to some good catches & appeals along the way. Let’s hope SA can stay on the up for the rest of this tournament in the hope of winning a trophy for the first time & not choke it like they’ve done a few times in the past.

And where do we go from here for the Aussies? First of all, gotta feel sorry for the bowlers who created some great chances for the fielders to finish off the good work for them. But most of the executions from these fielders just wasn’t there sadly where some couldn’t see where the ball is landing while another could’ve easily been a wicket or two but then dropped the ball which was really frustrating to watch. Plus, Alex Carey should be opening with Dave Warner next game v Sri Lanka on Monday, as don’t think Mitchell Marsh can stay on like this who is an all-rounder that opened the bat recently. M. Marsh would be better back at five if he’s not axed for their next game v Sri Lanka on Monday & nothing against Josh Inglis behind the gloves last night, but sadly he didn’t do any good & will have to hand the WK gloves back to Carey in a few days time.

October 12, 2023 0 comment

Other Sports

2022 T20 World Cup: Persistent rain abandoned Australia v England game tonight at the Melbourne Cricket Ground without a ball being bowled

by Sports Benches October 28, 2022

Well, we were hoping to have at least some play tonight between Australia v England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but again Mother Nature ultimately won this game ahead of the two teams without a ball being bowled.

With that being said, Australia should not have to face any issues beating Ireland and Afghanistan to complete their Super 12 campaign. However, like Mother Nature, Australia will need some luck & pray that England lose to the Black Caps (New Zealand) on Tuesday.

That way, not only Australia can end up in the Top 2 Group 1 ladder, but they can advance into the semi-finals v India or South Africa in order to continue their World Championship defence on home soil.

For now, the Australian Opening and Top-Order will need to be at their best by scoring big, so they can come to a semi-final fully prepared to upset a giant like India as if their 2nd place finish in Group 1 was confirmed.

Meanwhile, their bowling has been okay on the other hand but again they will need to be up and running right & nail down early wickets from the very start. If not, they will have a hard time overcoming India in the semi-final and potentially throw away another Trans-Tasman showdown v the Blackcaps (New Zealand) for the big T20 World Cup Final at the MCG come Sunday November 13.

We love seeing some underdog teams upset the big nation Test sides so far in this tournament, as we can’t wait to see how the business end of the Super 12 group stages unfold going into this weekend as well as the entirety of next week.

October 28, 2022 0 comment