Australia are into a World Cup final after escaping with a tense three wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata.
It was a game of swings and roundabouts for Australia, who kept South Africa in it with some undisciplined batting.
One player starred with both bat and ball, while a couple of Aussie quicks handed in superb opening spells.
Read on for Australia’s semi-final player ratings!
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TRAVIS HEAD – 9.5
A deserved man-of-the-match.
Head turned the game back into Australia’s favour with two wickets in as many deliveries just as South Africa were rallying back into a solid position.
While he didn’t add to the wickets column in subsequent overs, he kept the South African batsmen in check, finishing with 2/21 (5).
With the bat, Head and Warner showed plenty of intent early, hitting the South African seamers all over the ground.
Head smashed 62 off 48 before playing all round a Keshav Maharaj ball which ended an entertaining innings.
DAVID WARNER – 8
Brilliant in the field, particularly early as South Africa looked to attack their way out of a hole.
His two stops in the fifth over turned up the pressure cooker on the opposition batsmen and indirectly led to the dismissal of Quinton de Kock, who played a wild slog in the hunt for runs.
Sharply caught an Aiden Markram edge to remove the danger man in the 11th over.
Set the tone with bat in hand as well, blasting a quickfire 29 off 18 balls, helping Australia to 0-60 off six overs, before he fell victim to Markram’s first ball.
MITCHELL MARSH – 2
Entered the crease at 1/60, so he didn’t have a heap of pressure on him.
Unfortunately, Marsh was soon walking back to the pavilion after smacking one to cover.
The ‘Bison’ has a right to feel a little unlucky as it was an absolute screamer from Rassie van der Dussen, but considering he didn’t trouble the scorers with the bat or ball, it’s hard to rate him any higher.
STEVE SMITH – 6
Was ticking over nicely and putting together a patient innings, however undid a lot of his hard work with what Michael Atherton described as a “horrible hack” on 30 with Australia needing just 39 to win off 99 balls.
“That’s an uncharacteristic loose shot from Smith,” Shane Watson added.
We have to give Smith some credit though, as he did well to right the ship after South Africa nabbed two quick wickets of Labuschagne and Maxwell.
He also contributed to a strong team fielding effort with a couple of catches.
Miller ton salvages South Africa’s semis | 01:26
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 5.5
As always, looked lively in the field and saved a couple of sure boundaries early in the innings which contributed to some frustrated cricket shots from the Proteas.
Chipped in a handy 18 runs, but wasn’t able to go on with it after being caught lbw when attempting a reverse sweep.
It was a shot Matthew Hayden labelled “disappointing” considering the match scenario, with Australia needing just 80 to win with six wickets (and 28 overs) in hand after Labuschagne’s departure.
GLENN MAXWELL – 6
Given the ball and the task to stem the flow with South Africa’s fifth wicket partnership scoring at ease.
The star all-rounder did a terrific job of that, only allowing 35 runs from his 10 overs.
His output with the bat was non existent, bowled for just one after an ill-advised swing towards cow corner failed to connect with a ball from Tabraiz Shamsi.
JOSH INGLIS – 7.5
After a lean run with the bat, he played well for an important and gutsy 28 runs, handling the dangerous off spin with ease.
“For a young man coming into his first World Cup, he really just seemed in control and he’s brought that measured approach and confidence tonight in a semi-final in challenging conditions and a challenging situation for his team,” Shane Watson said in commentary.
“He’s been incredibly good. His present temperment is a skill,” Pommie Mbangwa added.
Unfortunately, Inglis couldn’t be the hero, dismissed with 20 runs to still chase, but his effort with the bat was a very important knock in the scheme of things.
In the field, he was involved early, safely catching a Temba Bavuma outside edge to remove the opener in the first over.
Other than that, you didn’t really notice him during South Africa’s innings, which for a wicketkeeper, is a good thing.
Emphatic Cummins catches de Kock | 00:42
PAT CUMMINS – 8.5
On paper, 14 runs and 3/51 probably isn’t deserving of such a high rating in most circumstances, but those 14 runs were some of the most hard-fought the Aussie skipper has ever earned.
Cummins walked out to bat with Australia needing 20 with three wickets in hand. He and Mitch Starc were able to hold their nerve and combine for a unbeaten 22 run partnership to guide Australia home with Cummins hitting the winning runs.
In the field, Cummins made a terrific catch to dismiss de Kock early in the innings, getting under a very high one. That was just one of many top notch pieces of fielding from the Aussies.
His decision to give Travis Head the pill in the 31st over proved to be a masterstroke with the part-time off spinner nabbing two wickets in two balls, breaking up the 95-run partnership of Heinrich Klassen and David Miller in the process.
Cummins took a couple of late wickets and ended with figures of 3/51 of 9.4 overs.
MITCHELL STARC – 9.5
By his lofty standards, Starc hasn’t been in great form this World Cup, but he was able to turn it on when he was needed most, with both ball and bat.
The left-arm quick got off to a flyer, snaring the big wicket of Temba Bavuma with the fifth ball of the game.
“Powerplay wickets have been hard to come by this tournament. When the moment requires it, Mitchell Starc stands up for Australia,” Shaun Pollock said in commentary.
There were a couple of miscues, which isn’t off brand for Starc, but overall, his first six-over spell was lethal (2-18) as he and fellow opening bowler Josh Hazlewood quickly turned the game into Australia’s favour.
“You know he’s bowling well when every ball seems like it’s going to be a wicket” Shane Watson said.
He also bowled nicely at the death, finishing with the excellent figures of 3/34 from his ten overs.
Starc was also the hero with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 16 as he and Pat Cummins put on a game-winning partnership with his team under immense pressure.
ADAM ZAMPA – 4
He was the only bowler who struggled.
Proteas’ middle order batsmen David Miller Heinrich Klaasen were keen to go after Zampa, and the spinner certainly gave them a few gifts with overpitched balls and full tosses.
He’s been so good throughout the middle overs this tournament, but that wasn’t the case here.
Finished with the figures of 0/55 off seven overs, with batsmen hitting half a dozen sixes of his bowling.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD – 9
Terrific first spell, bottling up the South African top order and picking up all important early wickets of the in-form Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram.
He went 2-12 off those first six overs, with seven of those runs coming from edges or false shots.
Essentially, Hazlewood and Starc’s first 12 overs together won the game for the Aussies.
Strangely, Hazlewood only bowled two more overs (two maidens) in the innings.
His 2/12 off eight overs are the most economical figures from an Australian male bowler in 17 years.
