Prolific opener David Warner smashed a brilliant 122 but could not claim victory for Australia as they slipped to a 10-run defeat to South Africa in their Cricket World Cup clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, leaving them facing a semi-final against England.
The result allowed India to take over at the top of the round-robin table at the end of the first stage, meaning Australia will battle the host nation at Edgbaston on Thursday, while the Indians meet New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Already-eliminated South Africa chose to bat and a century from captain Faf du Plessis took them to 325 for six in their 50 overs, a total boosted by Rassie van der Dussen’s well-constructed 95.
Australia were in trouble early in their innings and a hamstring injury to number three batsman Usman Khawaja saw him retire hurt, and put the rest of his tournament in jeopardy, but they rallied magnificently before being bowled out for 315 with one ball remaining.
The final #CWC19 standings table!
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 6, 2019
A loss to South Africa in Manchester means Australia finish second on the points table behind India. pic.twitter.com/cIMNDM4utP
"We would have liked to have got the win but there are some real positives from the game," Australia captain Aaron Finch said at the post-match presentation.
"We fought ourselves out of a bit of a hole with the bat and Davie Warner got a magnificent hundred. Alex Carey also played a brilliant knock to get us close.
"It’s a bit frustrating but we can also learn from this as well. We still managed to get really close while not playing our best cricket."
South Africa sign off from #CWC19 with a thrilling 10-run win over Australia in Manchester.#ProteaFire | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/UXnRGu7yAv
— ICC (@ICC) July 6, 2019
South Africa have been poor with the bat in the tournament but found form on an excellent wicket for stroke-making and posted their highest total of the World Cup.
Du Plessis followed up his unbeaten 96 against Sri Lanka last time out with another controlled innings of 100 from 94 balls.
He put on 151 for the third wicket with Van der Dussen, who was caught on the boundary in the last delivery of the innings as he chased his maiden ODI ton.
Australia lost Finch (3) in the third over of their reply and were in further trouble when Khawaja hobbled off with the score on 20.
Steve Smith (7) was trapped leg before wicket by Dwaine Pretorius (2-27), before wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock effected a brilliant run-out of Marcus Stoinis (22) with a flick behind his back and then took a superb catch to remove Glenn Maxwell (12).
At that stage Australia were reeling at 119 for four but Warner continued to score at a run a ball and got to his 17th ODI hundred with fours off successive deliveries.
WHAT A FINISH!
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 6, 2019
South Africa end on a high with a 10-run win against Australia and deny Finch's men a top-of-the-table spot! #AUSvSA | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/0v8ssf93WG
He put on a brilliant 108 in 90 balls for the sixth wicket with the excellent Carey (85 from 69 balls) to keep Australia in the hunt but miscued a Pretorius delivery and was superbly caught by a diving Chris Morris at mid-on.
A hobbling Khawaja (18) returned to the wicket late in the innings but, with his movement restricted, was bowled by seamer Kagiso Rabada (3-56).
"What a game, it's always a pleasure playing against Australia," Du Plessis said. "We wanted to at least go home with a small smile and today we got that as a team."
MATCH 45
SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS R B
Markram st Carey b Lyon 34 37
De Kock c Starc b Lyon 52 51
Du Plessis c Starc b Behrendorff 100 94
Van der Dussen c Maxwell b Cummins95 97
Duminy c Stoinis b Starc 14 13
Pretorius b Starc 2 5
Phehlukwayo not out 4 3
Extras (b 1, lb 10, w 13) 24
Total (50 Overs) 325/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-79 (Markram), 2-114 (De Kock), 3-265 (Du Plessis), 4-295 (Duminy), 5-317 (Pretorius), 6-325 (Van der Dussen)
Bowling
Starc 9-0-59-2, Behrendorff 8-0-55-1, Lyon 10-0-53-2, Cummins 9-0-66-1, Smith 1-0-5-0, Stoinis 3-0-19-0, Maxwell 10-0-57-0
AUSTRALIA INNINGS R B
Warner c Morris b Pretorius 122 117
Finch c Markram b Tahir 3 4
Khawaja b Rabada 18 14
Smith lbw b Pretorius 7 6
Stoinis run out (Rabada/De Kock) 22 34
Maxwell c De Kock b Rabada 12 20
Carey c Markram b Morris 85 69
Cummins c Duminy b Phehlukwayo 9 15
Starc b Rabada 16 11
Behrendorff not out 11 6
Lyon c Markram b Phehlukwayo 3 3
Extras (lb 4, w 3) 7
Total (49.5 Overs) 315 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-5 (Finch), 2-33 (Smith), 3-95 (Stoinis), 4-119 (Maxwell), 5-227 (Warner), 6-272 (Cummins), 7-275 (Carey), 8-301 (Khawaja), 9-306 (Starc), 10-315 (Lyon)
Bowling
Tahir 9-0-59-1, Rabada 10-0-56-3, Pretorius 6-2-27-2, Morris 9-0-63-1, Shamsi 9-0-62-0, Phehlukwayo 2.5-0-22-2, Duminy 4-0-22-0
South Africa won by 10 runs
MoM: Faf du Plessis
