Two of the biggest teams in this tournament are set to take on each other on Thursday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. On one hand, where South Africa started on a terrific note after winning against Sri Lanka by 102 runs, Australians couldn’t find their rhythm in their first match against India, losing the battle by 6 wickets in Chennai after a poor performance with the bat.
It is still the early part of the tournament and Australia still has ample chances to come back in form, also their battle against South Africa would be crucial for them keeping in mind their net run rate. The Proteas, on the other hand, would want to continue their tremendous display with the bat against Pat Cummins & Co.
What have they done so far?
Australia is one of the favorites to win the World Cup, however, the Men in Yellow got thrashed in their opening outing against India in Chennai. They could put a total of only 199 runs after deciding to bat first and couldn’t save the match.
Talking on a positive note, it was quite impressive to see their bowling with the new ball as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were brilliant in the beginning of the innings. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul stole the game away from Australia after an outstanding partnership for the 4th wicket.
Quinton de Kock scored a fine century against Sri Lanka in their first match of 2023 World Cup
On the other hand, South Africa had a dream start to their World Cup as they defeated Sri Lanka by 102 runs in a high-scoring match. The trio including Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram scored centuries and put South Africa in complete control.
Now, both teams are set to compete against one another in Lucknow. A defeat from here can put Australia under immense pressure and Temba Bavuma’s men would not want to leave any chance of doing so.
Head to Head Record
South Africa is a better side in this format after looking at their past record. They have won 54 matches against Australia in ODIs as compared to Australia’s 50 wins to date.
However, a team like Australia can never be ignored keeping in mind the players they have right now in their squad. Pat Cummins & Co. are capable of defeating this South African side even after their remarkable outing against Sri Lanka in the previous game.
Key Players
Quinton de Kock: The stylish batsman from South Africa, Quinton de Kock has already announced his retirement from the game after the World Cup which is surprising news for the team. But, the southpaw has been incredible so far in the tournament after scoring a scintillating ton against Sri Lanka.
He would now want to maintain his fine touch with the bat against Australia on October 12 as well and if he could help the Africans win this game, it is going to be easy for the Bavuma’s men going forward.
David Warner would be the key batter to watch out for in this clash
David Warner: One of the legends of the game, David Warner has found his lost form after a remarkable show against India in the recent ODI series. He also played well in the first World Cup match against India by scoring 41 runs before getting dismissed.
Warner’s form is quite important for the team as he can help Australia give a powerful start with the bat. He has a lot of experience playing against this South African bowling attack and a sensational innings from Warner in this match shouldn’t be a surprise for cricket fans.
Predicted XIs
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins ©, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma ©, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada
Prediction
South Africans are in terrific form right now with the bat and we can once again see 350+ in this match if they bat in a similar way. However, Australia have a class bowling attack in terms of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and they would give a tough challenge to the South African batsmen.
But with the recent form, it looks like the Africans have an upper chance of winning this battle.