October 12, 2023: Australia, the winners of the Men’s ICC Cricket World Cup in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015, would not have dropped as many catches in their five World Cup triumphs as they dropped in one day against a marauding South Africans.
Contrasting fortunes for the two teams in the past editions, contrasting in the ICC World Cup 2023 - It’s two in two for South Africa – big wins both. It’s two in two for Australia humiliating defeats both. It’s two centuries in two matches for Quinton de Kock.
The Ekana pitch in Lucknow is touted as one of the most difficult ones to bat on. Australia’s approach was in stark contrast to the Proteas’, while the former was clueless, the latter rode on some well-paced innings from its batters.
Chasing a target of 312 for a win, the Aussies lost wickets early and at regular intervals with Marnus Labuschagne’s scratchy 46 being the top score and the team eventually folded up for 177, handing SA a 134 run win. At one stage, Australia was staring at their lowest World Cup total, reeling at 70 for 6, with Kagiso Rabada on fire scalping Steve Smith, Josh Inglis and Marcos Stoinis.
Earlier, put into bat South Africa amassed 311/7 peppered with a handy dose of dropped catches by the butter finger Aussies. Opener Quinton de Kock, with a second successive century, left many wondering why would he want to retire from ODIs at just 30? While Aiden Markram smashed a quickfire fifty, to follow his century in the match against Sri Lanka. QDK was at ease at his IPL home ground pacing the innings from sedate to accelerating.
The Australian fielding cut a sorry figure dropping 5 catches including twice of skipper Temba Bavuma, and Markram on 1. The bowling changes by Pat Cummins were baffling, to say the least, with the constant shuffling unable to break partnerships.
So where does that leave Australia and the contenders for the knockouts?
Sample this post and the accompanying stat:
In a tournament just 10 matches old, there were 7 innings of 300+ scores, South Africa getting two in their wins and Sri Lanka two in losses, however here is an interesting stat:
Lost to India by 99 runs
Lost to SA by 122 runs
Lost to SA by 164 runs
Lost to SA by 111 runs
Their last successful 300+ chase came way back in Sep, 2020. It's still a long tournament with 7 games left, but will the champion side wake up.
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