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. SA 100-4published at 28 overs

    Glenn Maxwell, bed hair and chiselled stubble, continues to nibble away at the South Africa batters who are content to prod and poke his darts into the gaps.

    Still no boundary conceded off his off-breaks.

    The hundred is a up for South Africa which looked a long way away at 24-4.

  2. Postpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    FansImage source, Getty Images

    It feels like a 270 or 280 pitch. It's a bit slow. But whether South Africa can get there remains to be seen.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

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    LaLa: The Aussies need to go for the fifth and sixth wickets...bring in Marco Jansen and get into the tail-enders. Giving South Africa a sniff is a bad idea.

  4. Postpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Geoff Lemon
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Pure strength over deep mid-wicket for six from Heinrich Klaasen.

    That's gone miles back, consecutive sixes!

  5. 6 runs

    SA 95-4published at 27 overs

    It seems to be a different game for South Africa when Adam Zampa is bowling. You would not think he was the top wicket taker in the tournament until Mohammed Shami bagged seven wickets yesterday.

    Heinrich Klaasen picks Zampa's wrong 'un and heaves the leggie into the stands over cow corner. Then repeats it the very next ball.

    A release of pressure for the Proteas.

  6. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Geoff Lemon
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    South Africa don't look too bothered that the score isn't moving along too quickly. As long as these two are out there, they'll think they can pick a few overs to pick it up.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

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    Lots of people questioning South Africa's decision to bat first. I'm sure if they decided to bowl, and Australia had even a semi-decent start, everyone would be questioning their decision again. It was always going to be a tough decision regardless.

    Tom

  8. SA 81-4published at 26 overs

    Rather idiosyncratically David Miller undoes the fastenings on the straps of his gloves, then does them back up again.

    Pat Cummins continues to provide accuracy and dogged persistence. Once again David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen notch up a single apiece.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

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    Let's not write South Africa off just yet - if Heinrich Klaasen gets in, he could get a century in no time.

    Rob

  10. SA 79-4published at 25 overs

    Glenn Maxwell might get himself off to the Australian equivalent of deed pole and change his middle name from 'James' to 'Miserly' after another tight over.

    Just two singles from it. His analysis reads 3-0-4-0 so far.

    South Africa with not many on the board at the halfway point.

  11. Postpublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Firdose Moonda
    Cricinfo writer on BBC Test Match Special

    Rain has never helped South Africa so phantom rain might be the thing that does it.

    We're seeing a different side to both of these batters, they're being very circumspect.

  12. SA 77-4published at 24 overs

    The sun is setting over Kolkata, mellowing from yellow to pink and those brutalist old fashioned floodlights now loom large above the ground at Eden Gardens, beaming down on the sward below.

    Out in the middle Pat Cummins digs his fourth delivery into the pitch and Heinrich Klaasen, on his tiptoes, is able to skewer a cut over the leaping Steve Smith at backward point and to the boundary for four.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

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    Love to know the thought process behind winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

    Anon.

  14. Postpublished at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Geoff Lemon
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    The Australians have been hot on the field. All the ground fielding has been excellent.

  15. SA 71-4published at 23 overs

    Glenn Maxwell is playing the percentages here. Content to keep it tight with his lines and lengths, and not offering any width.

    Two runs of his two overs so far. South Africa's run rate is rather pedestrian 3.09.

    Here's the South Africa wickets to fall so far...

  16. Postpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Geoff Lemon
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    It is all down to one mistake. Can Australia draw one mistake from this pair?

    Australia don't just want to sit back and wait, they've got to keep the pressure on.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

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    Poor start for SA of course but lets see when both sides have batted. Long way to go yet...Klaasen could quite easily knock up a hundred here.

    Tex watching in Iraq

  18. SA 70-4published at 22 overs

    David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen pick up a single apiece off Pat Cummins' third over.

    Miller has looked the most fluent of South Africa's batters having whacked Adam Zampa for a couple of sixes. Here's one of them.

  19. Postpublished at 10:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Miller and Klaasen have a partnership now worth 44 after Australia's barnstorming start to the day.

    South Africa are just fighting back slightly.

  20. SA 68-4published at 21 overs

    Glenn Maxwell bowls darts, declining to offer the flight and guile of Adam Zampa, and South Africa manage just a single off the over.

    Tight start.