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2023 Cricket World Cup
One Day International Format
Australia v South Africa
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium
Lucknow, India
Thursday, 12 October 2023
Australia and South Africa are set to renew an intense rivalry when they square off at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in the
2023 Cricket World Cup on Thursday, October 12.
The two teams were involved in the most thrilling game in ODI history when the Proteas chased down 434 to beat the Aussies by one wicket at the Wanderers in 2006.
They met as recently as last month when Andrew McDonald's side toured South Africa, which saw the Proteas come from 2-0 down to win the five-match series 3-2.
South Africa got their title challenge in India off to a flying start after they beat Sri Lanka by 102 runs on October 7, breaking numerous records along the way.
Quinton de Kock (100), Rassie van der Dussen (108) and Aiden Markram (106) all notched centuries as the Proteas posted a mammoth total of 428/5 - the highest score in a World Cup.
The Lions went down swinging, however, and Kusal Mendis gave them hope with a blistering 76 off 42 balls, but they were eventually all out for 326 - Gerald Coetzee did much of the damage with figures of 3 for 68 in nine overs.
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Markram really let his emotions out when he went to his 100 with a six to record the fastest century (off just 49 balls) in World Cup history and the top-order batter admitted the players are passionate about doing something special in India.
"I think there's a lot of passion in this team to give our absolute all at this World Cup and see how far it can get us," he said after the clash with Sri Lanka.
"We're known to start pretty slowly, be it in a series or maybe world events and things like that, so we put a lot of emphasis on today's game; to start well and play the same cricket we've been playing that's managed to sneak us into this competition.
"So I think it's all of those emotions sort of mixed up and building up. That sort of just comes out and a lot of pride naturally for the three of us as well. When it's your day, try to cash in and really make it count. So a mixture of quite a lot of things I would say."
Australia will be looking to bounce back after being well below their best in a six-wicket defeat to hosts India on October 8.
Steven Smith top-scored for the Aussies with 46 off 71 balls as they struggled to get going in the Chennai heat and were dismissed for 199. David Warner also chipped in with 41 at the top of the order, but five of their batters failed to reach double figures.
India got off to a shaky start, losing three batters without troubling the scorers before Virat Kohli and KL Rahul took charge of proceedings to lead them to victory with 52 balls to spare.
Smith acknowledged his dismissal played a key role in preventing Australia from setting a competitive total as they slumped from 110 for 2 to 199 all out.
"Yeah, perhaps [my dismissal was the turning point]," he said. "I mean you never want to get out. We were trying to take it a little bit deeper, and it was obviously very challenging [on this pitch].
"And it was going to be challenging for the guy coming in... We were just trying to take it a little bit deeper and unfortunately felt like I got a pretty good ball from Jadeja.
"Felt like I was back playing Test cricket. But to lose those wickets in a row probably cost us getting up to around 250."
Head-to-Head (ODI)
Matches - 108
Australia - 50
South Africa - 54
Draws - 3
No result - 1
ODI World Rankings
3 - Australia
4 - South Africa
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