South Africa beat Australia by 10 runs to win their last league stage World Cup match on Saturday at Old Trafford in Manchester. The result meant that India finished top the points table after the end of league stage while Australia finished second. It means India will play New Zealand in the semifinals on July 9 while the defending champions have to contend with hosts England on July 11.
Australia (AUS): 315 (49.5 overs)
South Africa (SA): 325/6 (50 overs)
Australia vs South Africa (AUS vs SA): Live Scorecard
Chasing 326, Australia suffered an early blow when Imran Tahir dismissed Aaron Finch in the third. In another setback, Usman Khawaja (6) had to return back retired hurt. Dwaine Pretorius then trapped Steve Smith (7) to make it 33/2 in the 7th over. David Warner and Marcus Stoinis then added 62 for the fourth wicket before Stoinis was dismissed for 22. Glenn Maxwell added just 12 runs. Warner soon completed his century. He and Alex Carrey 108 runs for the fifth wicket. Chirs Morris took a good catch off the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius to send back Warner for 122.
However, Carrey carried on and kept Australia in the match with some very good shots. Pat Cummins was caught by JP Duminy for 9. Australia required another 54 runs with 4 wickets and 32 balls remaining at that time. Carrey (85 off 69 balls) fell to Moriss trying to go for a big shot in the 46th over. Usman Khawaja returned and tried his best but in the end Australia were all out for 315 with one ball to go in the match.
South Africa post 325/6
Aiming to sign off on a high, South Africa elected to bat and openers Aiden Markram (34) and Quinton de Kock (52) came out with positive intent.
Du Plessis and Van der Dussen carried forward the good work on a batting friendly pitch with their 151-run stand for the third wicket and in the process, the South African skipper raised his 12th ODI century.
After taking some time, Du Plessis worked the ball around nicely in the middle overs while Van der Dussen shifted gears in the latter stage of the innings.
Du Plessis' 100 came off 94 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Dussen raised team's 300 with a six off Pat Cummins but could not pull off a six in the last ball of the match to get his maiden ODI hundred. He holed out to Glenn Maxwell, looking for that big shot.
Nevertheless, he helped his team's cause and hit four sixes and as many fours in his entertaining knock. JP Duminy's last ODI innings for South Africa yielded 14 runs.
.
The Proteas openers timed the ball nicely and raised a 79-run stand in quick time, not sparing even Mitchell Strac, one of the best in business.
Markram stroked beautifully on the off-side while De Kock too was a delight to watch.
Markram, when on 32, offered a difficult chance to Behrendorff but the pacer could grab it. However, he did not last long and was stumped off Nathan Lyon.
The off-spinner soon sent back De Kock, who miscued one straight to Starc at backward point.
Realising that spinners are getting purchase from the wicket, Glenn Maxwell was employed and he did trouble the batsmen. He could have got wicket of Van der Dussen but Alex Carey missed a stumping chance. He was on 4 at that time.
The run rate took a beating after those wickets but Dussen and Plessis gradually shifted gears in their partnership.
