Australia defeated South Africa in the World Cup semi-final match in Kolkata on Thursday by three wickets. Temba Bavuma said South Africa lost the game in the first ten overs after choosing to bat first and letting Australia reach 74 for 2 in 10 overs. He credited Australia’s performance and the quality of their bowling attack for placing South Africa under pressure, resulting in a modest total of 212 runs. The unpredictable pitch conditions were another challenge that South Africa could not overcome, as they hoped to score higher than 212. However, they failed to do so due to Australia’s ruthless bowling. While the South African spinners later managed to create some chances, crucial opportunities were missed, including several difficult catches. Despite a valiant innings by David Miller, South Africa was unable to secure a more competitive total. Bavuma also praised young fast bowler Gerald Coetzee for his excellent performance and expressed pride in his captaincy. Walter emphasized the importance of Bavuma’s leadership in the tournament. South Africa have never reached the ODI World Cup final.
