AUS VS RSA - 10th Match, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

There we have it then, a grand win for South Africa, they move right up to the top of the table and have already built up a healthy NRR to complement the two wins they've got. They might've come in to the tournament and snuck under the radar but they are very much on it now and are looking like strong contenders. The story couldn't be more different for Australia. They simply haven't been themselves in this tournament thus far. A big defeat the other night to India and their biggest ever defeat in World Cups tonight means that they slump down to 9th place - just barely floating over Afghanistan on NRR. That's it from us here tonight. We've got New Zealand taking on Bangladesh in Chennai tomorrow so make sure you join us for that. Till then, this is Anurag signing off on behalf of Pradeep, Abhinand, Saurabh and Vinod. Take care and goodbye.

Temba Bavuma: I do think 311 was a couple over par, probably 290-300 was par. I guess I’m glad we lost the toss because we wanted to chase as well. I was scratchy with the bat, found it hard but Quinton (de Kock) needs to be given credit for the way he played. I think I’d be really greedy if I said there are things we can improve. It was almost the perfect game. The bowlers bowled really well, they have been under some slap but looking at all the phases, I think the guys really dominated. I’ll take that as our second game. Need to acknowledge the batting effort, the bowling effort was all about being clinical. Lungi (Ngidi) taking the new ball and KG (Rabada) showing intensity is what we’re looking for. In our team, character is the biggest thing we’ve spoken about. You can’t overlook the good work we’ve done, let's take the confidence and learnings. Let's celebrate it and come back for the next one.

Pat Cummins: I thought Quinton (de Kock) batted really well, couldn’t get a breakthrough. From where they were, we were quite happy with 310, thought it was chaseable. Looked like hard work out there tonight, their bowlers bowled really well, think it nipped around a bit more under lights. (On if it would’ve been easier to bat first) Really hard to say, if we want to be challenging in this tournament we need to find ways of performing regardless of batting first or second. Don’t think much needs to be said tonight, everyone’s hurting, we’ll try and take a couple of days off and then make amends to come back stronger in the next one. There’s a few things we need to tidy up.

Quinton de Kock | Player of the Match: It was a great win for the boys, to be honest, we didn't know how the pitch would play, we assessed the conditions beautifully and then applied ourselves well with the bat. The guys who spent time on the wicket, got a hand on the conditions and then used their scoring options. 311 was an above par score, I have played here for the Lucknow team (in the IPL), it becomes harder to bat second. The wicket does change a bit. It was sweaty and humid, the bowlers were on top of their game, no real loose balls and they picked early wickets. I think we are keen to prove ourselves, we played well, but it's just 2 games, the World Cup is a long tournament and games come quickly around, we will take it on a match-by-match basis.

Stats courtesy Shashikant Singh

- Teams winning the toss have now lost eight of the first 10 matches in this World Cup

- South Africa have now won 9 of their last 11 ODIs against Australia

- This is the first time Australia have lost their first two World Cup matches since 1992. For the first time, Australia have lost 4 consecutive World Cup matches.

South Africa's last six ODIs win margins
Won vs NETH by 146 runs
Won vs AUS by 111 runs
Won vs AUS by164 runs
Won vs AUS by 122 runs
Won vs SL by 102 runs
Won vs AUS by 134 runs - (today)

Lowest all-out totals for Australia in WC in this century:
151 vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2015
176 vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2011
177 vs South Africa, Lucknow, 2023* (today)
199 vs India, Chennai, 2023* (previous match)

Biggest defeats for Australia in the WC
134 runs vs SA, Lucknow, 2023*
118 runs vs IND, Chelmsford, 1983
101 runs vs WI, Leeds, 1983
89 runs vs PAK, Nottingham, 1979

A massive win for South Africa though. They ticked a lot of boxes tonight. While it was their batting that shone the other night, it was their bowling that even managed to outshine a great batting display today. They were very methodical and precise with the way they went about things today. The openers were watchful while the ball was doing a bit and were able to cash in after it stopped. It was by no means a placid surface, it was sticky and there was help for both the spinners and seamers. That became evident quite quickly once Australia came out to bat and it highlighted how well the Proteas had played earlier in the day. The Australians looked like but a shadow of themselves today and this will be a confidence-denting loss. Twice in two games now their batting has crumbled and it's definitely not something we've come to expect from them.

21:34 Local Time, 16:04 GMT, 21:34 IST: How often can you say that Australia have been comprehensively outplayed in a World Cup game? Well, today was one of those rare days where the five-time champions simply did not show up. Boy did South Africa have a day to remember though as they cruised to their second win in as many games in this tournament. They batted extremely well and posted 311 on a tacky surface. Quinton de Kock brought up a second successive century and Australia were under the pump throughout. They didn't help themselves in the field and quite astoundingly dropped 7 catches. Yes you read that right, SEVEN catches went down. The new ball nibbled around and the Australian openers simply couldn't get off the blocks. Marsh was the first to go and he was followed by Warner shortly. Smith was left completely bewildered after South Africa successfully reviewed and got an LBW shout overturned and that was only the first of the umpiring decisions that'll undoubtedly be discussed in the days that follow. South Africa were relentless and made the best of the conditions while they suited the bowlers. They picked up 3 more wickets in the space of the next 7 overs to leave Australia reeling at 70-6. The game was already over by then as Australia ditched the chase to salvage their NRR. Labuschagne and Starc shared a handy partnership that kept them going but they eventually they stumbled their way along to 177.

Shamsi to Hazlewood, out Caught by Rabada!! Straight up in the air and gone, South Africa win! What a day this has been! As clinical as it gets for the Proteas. Tossed up full on off-stump, Hazlewood leant down looking for a big slog-sweep, it took the top-edge and went straight up. Rabada settled under it at mid-wicket and made no mistake. Hazlewood c Rabada b Shamsi 2(2)

Shamsi to Hazlewood, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shamsi to Hazlewood, 2 runs, length delivery just outside off, punched out towards deep point

Josh Hazlewood, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Shamsi to Cummins, out Caught by Miller!! Cries of catch it and taken! Miller doesn't drop many! Shamsi has his first wicket in World Cup cricket. Floated another one up just outside off asking the batter to take him one, Cummins obliged but this was the wrong-un, it took the outer half of the bat as he looked to hit this down the ground and went straight down Miller's throat at long-off. Now just one wicket standing between South Africa and a famous win here. Cummins c Miller b Shamsi 22(21) [4s-4]

Shamsi to Cummins, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shamsi to Zampa, 1 run, full on middle, worked away towards deep square leg

Shamsi to Zampa, no run, tossed up full on middle, lovely flight enticed Zampa into going for a big shot, he made room looking to go down the ground and was beaten by the turn and bounce, went over the stumps that

Rabada to Zampa, 1 run, length delivery on middle, big heave across the line takes an inside edge and goes to deep backward square leg