3.28am
Australia still has time, but can she locate the form?
Australia still has a great chance to compete in the World Cup finals with seven regular-season games left, but their performance thus far says otherwise.
Australia easily qualified for the play-offs at the last World Cup in England four years ago after winning seven of its nine games, but ultimately lost to eventual champion England in the semi-final. With only five victories, New Zealand came in fourth place, won their semi-final, and was incredibly unlucky to lose the final.
Australia has only won one of their last eight one-day games, and it is difficult to predict where their next victory will come from. The fielding has been shoddy, the bowling has been uneven, and the hitting has been bad.
Australia is ranked ninth in the ten-team event, while South Africa has risen to the top of the standings as one of four teams with two victories. On Monday, they face Sri Lanka, who has also lost two games but has scored more over 300 in both of them. Australia has not yet reached 200.
3.09am
Australia lost to South Africa by 134 runs.
Australia was defeated by South Africa by 134 runs, suffering its second straight World Cup defeat. Australia was bowled out for 177 in 40.5 overs while chasing 312 to win. After suffering a crushing defeat to India in their initial match, Australia has now been bowled out for less than 200 runs twice in their first two games. It was South Africa’s second straight victory by more than 100 runs, in contrast.
2.41am
As South Africa approaches victory, Starc and Labuschagne are eliminated.
The lone 50-run partnership in Australia’s innings was broken when Mitchell Starc was caught behind for 27 after flicking at a short delivery from Jansen. After Australia sank to 6/70, Starc and Labuschagne added 69 off 98 balls. In the following over, Labuschagne was out for 46 after being caught at cover while driving the spinner Maharaj, who finished with 2-30 from his 10 overs. Starc and Labuschagne are the only two players to reach 20 in the first two games since Australia’s batting performance in this tournament has been so awful.
Australia 8/143 from 35 overs: Zampa 0; Cummins 2
Updates for the 2023 Cricket World Cup: South Africa plays Australia, and Alex Carey is dropped
2.25am
Collaboration between Labuschagne and Starc at 50
With their first 50-run partnership in Australia’s inning, Labuschagne and Starc have stopped the flow of wickets, but the winning target of 312 continues to elude them. The two appeared to be batting to attempt to improve Australia’s already subpar run rate following a crushing defeat to India in the first game.
Australia 6/128 from 31 overs: Starc (22), Labuschagne (39).
1.54am
Australia 6/100 off 25.2 overs with a 312 run deficit
With six wickets down, it took Australia longer than the allotted 25 overs for them to scramble 100 runs, and they still needed 212 runs to win. Along the way, Marsh (7) and Warner (13) managed to put together a 27-run opening stand, but Marnus Labuschagne (22 no) and Mitchell Starc (14 no) recorded the highest partnership of a poor batting display.
1.25am
Stoinis departs as Rabada scores once more
Australia is in serious decline. Marcus Stoinis was caught from behind on a review for only 5. Rabada’s ball brushed something as it sailed through to de Kock, and he flicked at it. Richard Kettleborough, the television umpire, overturned umpire Joel Wilson’s call of “not out.” As the ball passed, Stoinis removed his bottom hand from the bat, but Kettleborough appeared to judge that the bottom hand was in contact with the top hand.
Labuschagne scores eight as Australia 6/70 in 17.2 overs.
1.13am
Maxwell leaves before the collapse is finished.
Australia’s batting against South Africa is in ruins as a result of Glenn Maxwell’s dismissal for just 3 from 17 balls. Maxwell batted conservatively in an effort to rebuild Australia’s innings with Labuschagne, but he shot over a delivery from left-arm spinner Maharja and provided a leading edge for a straightforward return catch.
Australia 5/65 off 16.1 overs with 8 from Labuschagne
1.04am
Drinks with a sobering fall in Australia
It’s time for refreshments as Australia, which needs 312 to win improbably, is in ruins at 4/60 off 14 overs. Even though Ngidi, Jansen, and Rabada were all moving the ball, it was still difficult to play under the lights. The Australians have not had much success with the ball or the bat thus far, with the exception of Glenn Maxwell’s bowling, who has a bowling average of 2-34 from 10 overs without giving up a boundary. At 108, South Africa dropped their first wicket.
12.52am
Two wickets are taken by Rabada as Australia is defeated.
Josh Inglis, who was playing in his first World Cup, and Steve Smith were both dismissed by Rabada in the span of two overs. Smith, who was in shock, was declared out leg before wicket for 19. Smith was in excellent form and had four boundaries in 16 balls, including two in a row in Rabada’s opening over. At first sight, the ball appeared to be slipping down the leg side after hitting Smith high on the pads, but umpire Joel Wilson was compelled to overturn his call for not out. Inglis was struck by the first ball of Rabada’s subsequent over, which flew off the field and struck off stump, for five runs.
Australia 4/56 in 11.1 overs with 3 by Labuschagne
12.30am
Australia loses early wickets when Warner departs.
Seven balls after Marsh, David Warner leaves the game after slicing a short Ngini delivery straight to van der Dussen at cover. The ball appeared to hold in the pitch in Warner’s preferred hitting area, but he mistimed the shot and was out for 13 from 27 balls.
Smith for Australia, 2/27 off seven overs. 0
12.24am
Marsh is the first to accept Australia.
Marsh attempted to swipe Jansen’s delivery over the leg side, but was caught at mid-off by Bavuma for seven runs off 15 balls. With Ngini and Jansen gaining significant swing and seam movement, it seemed as though Australia was just starting to loosen its grip on the South African opening bowlers. A magnificent flick down the leg side to the boundary from Warner and five wides swinging down the leg side were among the 11 runs that Jansen had given up from the previous three deliveries.
Warner scores 13 off six overs for Australia.
11.57 p.m. yesterday
Australia is traveling and attempting to win by 312.
Marsh took the strike position and, following a failed effort at a pull shot, squared Ngidi’s second delivery of Australia’s inning for a single. Warner misfired on the following ball, turning it fine for two, which would have been a boundary but for Jansen’s acrobatic catch in the second over.
11.51 p.m. yesterday
Australia needs to make history to win
The good news is that Australia has twice exceeded the goal of 312 for tonight in a World Cup when they bat second. Unfortunately, they have fallen short both times. when Australia hasn’t amassed many greater totals in the summit of one-day cricket, 16 of those totals have come when batting first and have all led to victory. Australia, meanwhile, was knocked out for 316 against India (5/352) and 315 against South Africa of all teams (6/325) during the 2019 World Cup in England.