Australia’s prowess with the ball, particularly by the destructive duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, was on full display as they faced off against South Africa in a decisive semifinal clash. On a day where overcast conditions seemed tailored for seamers, the Kangaroos shone, eviscerating a determined South African batting lineup that found itself reeling at 24 for four after Proteas captain Temba Bavuma opted to take first strike upon winning the toss.
The match, however, took a dramatic turn courtesy of David Miller’s heroic efforts. With a retinue of strokes that showcased his skill and determination, Miller carved out a much-needed rescue operation for the South Africans, propelling them to a defensible if not entirely comfortable total of 212. Yet, the fightback would not prove sufficient against the Australian batting line-up, steered ably by none other than their captain, Pat Cummins.
In what unfolded as a riveting low-scoring affair at the iconic Eden Gardens, Cummins, alongside Starc, took command in the tense chase and steered the team to the target with three wickets in hand. The victory did not come easy, but it was a testament to Australia’s depth and composed approach, even in the face of a potentially tricky scenario.
Reflecting on the game’s nerve-wracking moments, Starc shared his outlook during the post-match press conference, noting, “I think it was a tricky wicket throughout, and I guess different phases of pressure for both teams throughout the game. So, yeah, I was pretty calm. I think Pat was pretty calm as well. And whilst it was pretty close, we had plenty of time. So, nice to squeeze past and make it to a final.”
The left-arm speedster expressed mild astonishment at the nature of the pitch in Kolkata. Starc remarked, “Yeah, I’m certainly not going to say I’m one to read pitches and know what they do. I mean, training here the last few days, the practice wicket certainly turned a lot. From all reports, I think the wicket we played on has been used a few times, so no surprise that it did turn. It is probably a little surprising that it did seam around a little bit whilst I said before it was pretty inconsistent pace-wise, I think average first inning scores here have been sort of around the 300 mark or a little bit higher. So yeah, a little bit surprising but you know sometimes it’s nice to see ball dominate bat.”
The match’s bowling hero for Australia, who finished with impressive figures of 3 for 34, couldn’t hide his satisfaction with his performance. Starc shared, “Yeah, that’s probably not been the tournament I would have liked from the get-go, but nice to step up in a big game. And I think our power play was probably what got us on our way. And there were other key moments throughout the day with bat and ball, but to start the game like that with Joshie [Hazlewood] and I, power play wickets have probably been not our strong suit through the tournament, so it’s nice to have a power play of what two for 18 or something like that.”
He continued to heap praise on the collective effort from the Aussie squad, acknowledging the invaluable contributions from players in different roles throughout the day — from Hazlewood’s miserly spell, conceding only 12 runs for his two scalps, to versatile performances by batsmen and excellent fielding efforts that punctuated the Australian competitiveness.
As the sun set over the fabled Eden Gardens, with Australia having secured a spot in the final, it was a day that reinforced the old adage of cricket being a game of glorious uncertainties, with bowlers enjoying their day in the limelight — a refreshing twist in a sport often dominated by high-scoring extravaganzas.