David Miller’s century was the saving grace for South Africa as they managed to score 212 runs in challenging batting conditions against Australia during the second semifinal of the 2023 World Cup. This marked Miller’s sixth ODI hundred and was a crucial recovery for South Africa, who found themselves struggling at 24 for 4 after choosing to bat.
Batting under overcast skies was a desire even expressed by Pat Cummins, but the early overs from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood emphasized that batting wouldn’t be easy against the new ball. Temba Bavuma, who faced only five deliveries, was dismissed for a duck, edging a delivery from Starc behind. Hazlewood, on the other hand, proved to be even more menacing.
Hazlewood’s initial spell was impressive, with figures of 6-1-12-2, accounting for the wickets of Quinton de Kock (caught at mid-on after a series of dot balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (edged to second slip). Starc was equally effective at the other end, bowling seven consecutive overs and taking 2 for 18 in his first spell. Aiden Markram was another victim of Starc, edging the ball to backward point.
The new-ball bowlers maintained such tight lines and lengths, combined with Australia’s strong ground fielding, that South Africa struggled to reach 18/2 at the end of the first 10 overs. It took a lengthy 53 balls for the first boundary of the match to come.
Following the loss of four early wickets, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen formed a crucial 95-run partnership. They took advantage of inconsistent lengths from Adam Zampa after a 45-minute rain break. Six of the eight sixes hit in the innings were off Zampa’s bowling, with both Miller and Klaasen hitting two each.
Just when South Africa seemed to stabilize after adding 44 runs between overs 21 and 30, Travis Head made an impact in his first over by taking two wickets off two balls. Head bowled slow and accurately, beating Klaasen for length and then dismissing Marco Jansen, who was pinned in front by a delivery that spun in from well outside off. Kolkata’s conditions proved to be challenging and unpredictable.
Another 53-run partnership followed between Miller and Gerald Coetzee for the seventh wicket, with Miller being the primary contributor. It could have lasted longer had Coetzee reviewed the caught-behind decision; the short ball had not top-edged, as initially thought by the on-field umpire, but rather deflected off his arm to the keeper.
Miller reached his century off 115 balls, hitting 8 fours and 5 sixes in a memorable innings in a World Cup knockout match. However, he was dismissed just two balls after reaching this milestone while attempting to pull one of the many short balls bowled by Pat Cummins from around the wicket.
In summary, South Africa managed to score 213 runs in 49.4 overs, with Miller’s century standing out, but Australia’s bowlers, led by Starc and Cummins, put up a formidable performance in the World Cup semifinal.
