AUS vs SA World Cup 2023 Semi-final 2: Awards List, Man of The Match, Key Stats, Presentation Ceremony

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AUS vs SA World Cup 2023 Semi-final 2: Australia defeated South Africa by three wickets at the Eden Gardens on Thursday to set up the World Cup 2023 final clash against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

South Africa fought till the very end to defend the 213-run target, but Australia held their nerves and had luck on their side as they inched closer to their sixth World Cup title. They were helped by a few fielding errors by the South African side.

Australia openers David Warner (29 off 18) and Travis Head (62 off 48) gave Australia a flying start and partnered for 60 runs off just 37 deliveries. The partnership was broken by part-time spinner Markram who clean bowled Warner in the seventh over.

Kagiso Rabada struck in the next over to dismiss Mitchell Marsh for a six-ball duck. But Head continued from one end and forged another 45-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne (18). South Africa got the third breakthrough when Keshav Maharaj cleaned the stumps of Head in the 15th over with the Australian scorecard reading 106/3.

Tabraiz Shamsi gave South Africa more hope by picking the wickets of Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell (1) in consecutive overs to leave Australia reeling at 137/5. But Steve Smith brought in all his experience in the middle to score 30 off 62 and accumulate 37 runs off 59 balls with Josh Inglis (28 off 49).

Just when Australia looked set to stroll past the winning line, South Africa's 23-year-old pacer Gerald Coetzee first got Smith and then cleaned the stumps of Inglis, with Australia still needing 20 runs.

The eighth wicket was also well on cards but Pat Cummins (14* off 29) was dropped by Quinton de Kock with Australia nine away from the winning total. He later hit the winning boundary on the second ball of the 48th over to fire Australia into another final. Gritty Mitchell Starc also stayed unbeaten on 16 off 38 balls.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first in overcast conditions, South Africa were reduced to 24/4 in 11.5 overs. Mitchell Starc dismissed Temba Bavuma for a duck, while in-form batter Quinton de Kock could manage to score just three runs off 14 balls before getting out to Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood also picked the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen (6). Aiden Markram's 20-ball stay for 10 runs was brought to an end by Starc. A partnership was the need of the hour for South Africa.

It was then that David Miller forged a 95-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen (47) to take South Africa past hundred without any further loss. Travis Head struck for the second consecutive time to dismiss Marco Jansen for a golden duck and leave South Africa reeling at 119/6. However, Miller continued piling up runs from one end.

He brought up his hundred and took South Africa past 200 with a massive six off Pat Cummins over deep mid-wicket in the 48th over. Miller departed for 101 off 116 balls while trying to clear the boundary ropes with another pull shot a delivery later in

Every present at the iconic Eden Gardens were on their feet to applaud the gutsy knock from the southpaw. South Africa were bundled out for 212 in 49.4 overs. Mictchell Starc and Pat Cummins picked three wickets apiece. Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head scalped two wickets each.

AUS vs SA, World Cup 2023: Full List of Awards

Man of the Match: Travid Head of Australia was given the Man of the Match Award for his 62 off 48 balls and two wickets for 21 runs in five overs.

AUS vs SA, World Cup 2023: Who Said What?

Travis Head (Man of the Match): Hard to unpack all of that. Tensed finish, amazing game. Didn't move from the seat for the last. We knew how it was going to play, we had three or four days here. We haven't seen such spin, we knew we had to battle.

I thought I wasn't going to be here (after the hand injury), but I am happy to contribute for Australia, nice to be here. Straight as they came. He (Klaasen) smacked me, was under the pump, but it was nice to get his wicket.

I was prepared to bowl a few overs, always keen to contribute with the ball. We have had that positive approach to keep the pace rolling. Disappointed for the way I got out, that (vs Maharaj) was a match up against a left-arm spinner, but wasn't to be.

It's an unbelievable attack, their bowlers look sharp and they have been one of the best teams in the competition, never dreamed of playing a World Cup final against them.

Temba Bavuma (South Africa captain): Cannot put it into words, first of all congratulations to Australia. Good luck to them in the final. They played really well today. Our character came through today. We should a lot of resilience.

The way we started with the bat and the ball was the telling point, that's where we lost the game. The conditions combined with the quality of their attack was it, they really put us under pressure. You're always going to struggle to put up a competitive total when you're 24/4.

We were gaining some momentum when Miller and Klaasen were out there but unfortunately he couldn't carry on a bit longer. Miller's innings was superb, really highlights the character of the entire team, it was extraordinary to do that in such a pressure situation and in a world cup Semi-final.

They got 70-odd in the first 10 and that really allowed the rest of the guys to settle. Markram and Maharaj were fantastic and they really put them under pressure. We had chances, tough chances that we put down, it could've been a bit close had we held on to them.

As a young guy, he really was the warrior for us, there wasn't much happening for the seamers then but for him to come around the wicket and to take the wicket of Smith was incredible.

He was cramping but he still wanted to keep bowling. Quinton would've probably wanted to end his career on a different note, despite the result I think he'll remember his time. He'll go down as one of the greatest in South African cricket.

Pat Cummins (Australia captain): I think it was easier out there than sitting in the dugout. Nerve-racking couple of hours but it was good to get the result. Wasn't expecting Starc and Hazlewood to bowl so much early.

We knew it was going to spin later on but there was a bit of cloud cover so wasn't too disappointed about bowling first. We talk a lot about our fielding, probably wasn't up to standard at the start of the tournament but we were fantastic today.

Specially Warner who's 37. Travid Head was the man today, to take that crucial wicket in the middle overs. Inglis played that beautifully, he looked in total control out there, especially against two quality spinners.

Few of us have played in a final before, couple of other guys in a T20 World Cup, the stadium is going to be packed, mostly going to be one sided but it's about embracing it. 2015 World Cup was one of the highlights of my career, never thought I'd be here playing another World Cup final in Mumbai.

AUS vs SA Key Stats

• 20: Gerald Coetzee picked 20 wickets in 2023 World Cup. No South Africa bowler have taken more wickets in a single World Cup edition. Lance Klusener picked 19 wickets in 1999 World Cup.

• 20: Quinton de Kock finished his campaign with 20 dismissals behind the stumps. The tally is joint second-highest in World Cup. Adam Gilchrist (2003) and Tom Latham (2019) are at the top with 21 dismissals each. Australia's Alex Carey also registered 20 dismissals behind the stumps in 2019 World Cup.