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Australia suffer second successive World Cup defeat


Published : 13 Oct 2023 05:31 PM

Australia suffered a mammoth 134-run defeat in the hands of South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup match in Lucknow on Wednesday. 

South Africa have given Australia a real pasting and a proper hiding. The margin of defeat, in fact, could have been much greater had Labuschagne and Starc not mustered a 69-run partnership. That was about it from an Australian batting perspective, and that sort of sums up what was a dire batting display overall.

As inept as Australia looked with the bat, credit must be given to how South Africa bowled, especially when the ball was darting around. Jansen and Ngidi picked up a powerplay wicket each before Rabada ran through Australia's middle order, scalping Smith, Inglis and Stoinis - although two of them involved some contentious calls.

The spinners then did the rest, rarely allowing Australia the luxury to break free. Maharaj bagged a wicket, with Shamsi eventually closing out the game. South Africa now has two wins out of two, and they are looking a very well-oilea

Earlier, Quinton de Kock hit his second successive century at the World Cup as South Africa made 311-7. 

The 30-year-old De Kock reached his 19th ODI hundred off 90 balls with eight fours and five sixes having also made a century in South Africa's opening win over Sri Lanka. 

He was eventually dismissed for 109, bowled by off-spinner Glenn Maxwell while trying to reverse sweep in the 35th over. 

South Africa were on 197-3 at the time before Aiden Markram then took up the charge.

Having made the fastest World Cup century off just 49 balls in the win over Sri Lanka, Markram raced to 56, making the most of being dropped by Australia skipper Pat Cummins when he had made just a single.

It was a miserable day in the field for Australia as South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was also dropped twice on 19 and 32.

Bavuma's luck ran out on 35 when he was caught at midwicket by David Warner off Maxwell.

With De Kock, the skipper put on 108 for the first wicket.

Once Markram was dismissed by Cummins, the Proteas saw Marco Jansen (26) and David Miller (17) take them past the 300 mark.

Both Miller and Jansen fell in the final over, a double-wicket maiden bowled by Mitchell Starc.