The Australian cricket team, known as the Baggy Greens, entered the contest on Thursday with added pressure. Their recent six-wicket defeat to India had left them needing a strong response against South Africa, a direct rival for a spot in the semi-finals.
Unfortunately for Australia, the match proved to be a one-sided affair. Quinton de Kock's brilliant century, scoring 109 runs, set the tone for South Africa. The South African bowling attack also delivered a formidable performance, making it difficult for the Australians to build a competitive response. Within the first 9.5 overs, they had lost three key wickets, with Mitchell Marsh (7), David Warner (13), and Steven Smith (19) falling short of making significant contributions.
As the match progressed, Australia's predicament worsened, with their score at 65-5, emphasizing the importance of protecting their net run-rate. Marnus Labuschagne's valiant knock of 46 offered a glimmer of hope and pride.
Mitchell Starc (27) and Pat Cummins (22) made some useful contributions in the lower order. However, Australia was eventually bowled out for 177, leaving them with 55 balls to spare in their allotted 50 overs.
South Africa's bowling attack performed admirably, with four of their bowlers taking at least two wickets each. Kagiso Rabada stood out with his figures of 3-38. This victory was the result of a collective team effort that left Australia with a challenging net run-rate of -1.846.
With a must-win showdown against Sri Lanka on the horizon, Australia faces a critical test as they strive to keep their Cricket World Cup semi-final hopes alive.
