World Cup 2023: South Africa appear to have finally cracked the code, Australia in dire straits

A 102-run win over Sri Lanka in Delhi with trio of centuries, fastest World Cup century and biggest World Cup total. A 134-run win over five-time World Cup winners Australia in Lucknow – the biggest defeat for the perennial champions. If flying under the radar was their attempt, South Africa were not helping themselves. However, if sending a message out to the rest was the goal, they had done that. And how.

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The message sending spree, however, wasn’t new. South Africa’s winning margins in the last six matches read: by 146 runs (vs Netherlands), by 111 runs (vs Australia), by 164 runs (vs Australia), by 122 runs (vs Australia), by 102 runs (vs Sri Lanka) and by 134 runs (vs Australia on Thursday). The ‘chokers’, the unlucky bunch of ICC Cricket World Cups were seemingly turning a tide.

Australia were guilty of dropping six catches with two of them coming in the space of three balls. If that wasn’t sign enough of a divine shift in favour of South Africa, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith departed to contentious decisions.

Against Kagiso Rabada, Stoinis tried to fend off a delivery but appeared to make contact before it carried to Quinton de Kock. UltraEdge confirmed the ball had indeed brushed Stoinis’ bottom hand and gone on to be collected safely behind the stumps. However, Australia argued Stoinis had let go of the bat handle when the contact was made. Third umpire Richard Kettleborough felt that the right glove was making contact with the left, which in turn was still holding on to the bat.

Earlier, Steve Smith was given out leg before after being struck on the pads as he shuffled across with ball-tracking technology predicting the delivery would have gone on to hit the top of left stump. Smith, though, wasn’t convinced. He studied the replays on the screen and walked off with a look of bemusement. Smith’s exit left Australia at 50/3 in a chase of 312 runs. Thereafter, the Aussies lost four wickets for 20 runs and mentally the contest as well. When Stoinis departed, the score read 70/6 and the target was well out of reach.

Well this one’s sure to cause a bit of debate…#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/466E6VvnR1

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 12, 2023

Australia’s insipid batting display witnessed just one fighting knock, from Marnus Labuschagne worth 46 runs, as South Africa ran through their batters to make a mark. Rabada took three wickets while Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi all took two each. Lungi Ngidi picked up one wicket but stemmed the flow of runs with two maiden overs and 35 dot balls in total.

Unlike the surface in Delhi which lacked substance, the one in Lucknow was sticky and required application from everyone. It aided the bowlers – spinners and pacers – provided they landed the ball in perfect areas. South Africa ticked both boxes on Thursday and did so right from the word go.

Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma stitched a 100-run partnership at the top of the order with the former going on to clinch his second World Cup century in as many innings. Quinton de Kock’s knock was unlike his earlier bang-bang knocks. This one was methodical, well built and most importantly, it was careful. The left-hander targeted the short boundary, 63 metres square, and played reverse sweeps to go after vacant areas.

The two captains acknowledged the importance of De Kock’s century at the top of the order especially on a track that was challenging for the batters.

“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,” said Pat Cummins.

“I found it quite tricky myself with the bat. I was scratchy throughout my innings. I think Quinton going out and ending up with this with a score like that, I think he needs to be credited a lot,” said Temba Bavuma.

Quinton de Kock, who had not scored a century for 20 months, now has two in two matches. “It was big not just because it was a World Cup, but because I’ve been wanting a hundred for a while,” he said after the Sri Lanka match.

The 30-year-old was helped by the time spent at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium as part of Lucknow Super Giants.

“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,” said De Kock who was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Australia fielding in this WC:

Catches taken – 8
Catches dropped – 6
Efficiency – 57.1

Cricket fans in Lucknow counting the bad review & drop catches of Australia.
⁦@cricketcomau⁩ pic.twitter.com/MMAig7cgLs

— ANOOP SAMRAJ (@CricSamraj) October 12, 2023

At the other end, Australia have plenty to do. The last time they lost their first two World Cup matches was back in 1992. While the rest of the field has contributed 12 centuries at the World Cup already, Australia’s highest individual score is a 46 across two matches – against India on Sunday and South Africa on Thursday. The bowling and fielding have been well off the mark as well. Fielding so much that crowd in Lucknow kept a tally of their mishaps.

“Probably not much needs to be said [to my team-mates] tonight. I think everyone’s hurting. We’ve got a few days and the next game’s here as well. So we’ll group and regroup…everyone’s hurting. So we’re trying to make amends,” said Cummins after.

For South Africa, there is more reason to celebrate this win and more importantly believe in their chances. Against no other team have they faced more heartache than Australia. It happened in 1999 at Edgbaston. It happened at Gros Islet in 2007. Is it finally time for South Africa?

“We’re still a long way away but there are plenty of positives to take. It’s just about leaving this behind once and focus on the next game, that’s it,” Rabada said.

Baby steps then.