Summary

  • Australia book World Cup final date against hosts India

  • Cummins and Starc see Australia to three-wicket victory

  • Regular wickets keep SA in contention on spinning wicket

  • Head (62) and Smith (30) top-score for Australia

  • South Africa bowled out for 212

  • Miller hits 115-ball century, bringing up hundred with a six

  • Klaasen (47) & Miller put on 95 for fifth wicket

  • South Africa slump to 24-4 under grey skies

  • Starc & Cummins take three wickets each

  1. Postpublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    South Africa's David Miller, who made 101: "A really big innings for me if we come out on top. Ultimately, we want to come out on top.

    "Really great to get a hundred but only half of the game is done. We fought hard at the end and got a decent score.

    "We knew it was going to be slow and turn. We expected those kind of conditions but four down early, we were always on the back foot. But we managed to salvage something with a couple of partnerships towards the back end.

    "We fought hard and hopefully we can get a couple of early wickets now.

    "In that position, you're behind the eight ball so it is about staying in the moment, watching every ball, trusting your preparation and slowly but surely edging your way forward and building a partnership.

    "We were four down in the powerplay so if we can start well, put them under pressure and put that run-rate up as soon as possible, hopefully we can put them under pressure.

    "I do think it's a defendable score. We need to have clear plans and execute them."

  2. Postpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    David Miller stood firm, but needed Klaasen's company for a few more overs if South Africa were going to really challenge.

    Gerald Coetzee battled for 19, but ultimately it was a huge ask for Miller.

    His hundred, from 115 balls with five sixes, was a magnificent effort of patience and power when necessary. At 24-4, 200 looked almost impossible but he has at least got them something.

  3. Postpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller led a counter-attack from 24-4 to 119-4 as Australia turned to spin in the middle overs, playing into their strengths.

    But their strength was also their downfall, as the game was turned on its head (sorry, couldn't resist) by the unlikely figure of their opening batter Travis.

    His two wickets in an over got rid of Klaasen and the twitchy Marco Jansen for a first baller.

  4. Postpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    South Africa were always going to bat first if they won the toss, no matter what. Pat Cummins admitted he'd have done the same but when his seamers ripped through the top order to leave the Proteas 24-4, I don't think he was too disheartened by how it turned out.

    Starc and Hazlewood were lethal, relentlessly accurate and boosted by helpful cloudy conditions.

    South Africa had no answers.

  5. Postpublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    You have to credit Australia with how well they have gone about their work. The damage was done at the top of the innings with some outstanding swing and seam bowling. Half a job well done for Australia.

    South Africa battled their way back into the match thanks to Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller and will hope that with a good start here they can put some pressure back on Australia.

  6. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 49.3 overs

    Rabada c Maxwell b Cummins 10 (SA 212)

    And that is that.

    Kagiso Rabada nails one down the ground but only succeeds in picking out a diving Glenn Maxwell.

    South Africa end up 212 all out - one short of the famous 1999 semi-final!

    It's not what they'll have wanted batting first. It's not the easiest pitch to bat on, but South Africa are going to have to bowl very, very well.

  7. SA 212-9published at 49.2 overs

    Singles.

    A good start from Pat Cummins.

  8. SA 210-9published at 49 overs

    One over to go. Three runs for the purists out there, but I'm not sure Rabada and Shamsi will have any clue.

    Also, why has Josh Hazlewood not bowled again?

  9. Postpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That was a magnificent shot from Kagiso Rabada. Long, high and over the railings which separate the crowd from the pitch. A thrilling shot!

  10. 6 runs

    SA 209-9published at 48.3 overs

    That's more like it!

    Short, and top-edged for six by Kagiso Rabada.

  11. SA 203-9published at 48.2 overs

    Another 10 runs seems improbable right now.

    It's dot ball central out there.

  12. Postpublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Australia were clinical at the start, a bit off in the middle, and back to their best again at the end.

  13. SA 203-9published at 48 overs

    Can South Africa get to 213 to mirror the score from the famous 1999 semi-final?

    Numbers 10 and 11 Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi have got to try and scramble as many as they can in the last two overs.

  14. Postpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    That was a slower ball into the surface from Pat Cummins and Travis Head casually throws it up before stepping back on the rope, then collecting it.

  15. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 47.2 overs

    Miller c Head b Cummins 101 (SA 203-9)

    Hundred and out.

    Miller goes for another six but picks out Travis Head on the boundary. He's gutted, head in hands.

    A magnificent effort, trying to get South Africa to a defendable total single-handedly.

  16. Postpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    David Miller has given South Africa a chance of getting something out of this game.

  17. Postpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    MillerImage source, Getty Images

    That's David Miller's hundred and it comes from a magnificent blow. His sixth ODI century and his first for five years. He's done it in a World Cup semi-final and given South Africa a chance.

  18. 100 runs

    100 for David Millerpublished at 47.1 overs

    SA 202-8

    David Miller goes to his century with his six!

    He launches Pat Cummins over square leg, a 94-metre hit, and that has been a phenomenal effort. He came to the crease at 24-4 in the 12th over, has absorbed all of the pressure and given South Africa a glimmer of hope.

    It may not be enough, because nobody has been able to stick with h im, but he can be very proud of his efforts.

  19. SA 196-8published at 47 overs

    Miller and Rabada can only manage singles as Mitchell Starc completes another very fine over.

    He ends it with a full toss that Rabada can't make the most of, but Miller would probably have launched into the next city.

  20. SA 192-8published at 46.3 overs

    Kagiso Rabada does what Keshav Maharaj couldn't. Easy single, get Miller back on strike.