Final bound! Aussies prevail over Proteas in tense semi

The might of India remains the only barrier between Australia and their sixth men's 50-over title as Pat Cummins' men limped over the line in a low-scoring thriller to see South Africa add to their catalogue of heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeats.

Mysteriously playing on a Kolkata pitch used for a group-stage fixture five days earlier despite this semi-final marking the biggest match Eden Gardens has hosted in seven years, the Aussies got home by three wickets thanks chiefly to Travis Head (62 off 48) breaking the back of the run chase.

The Proteas had been in with a chance thanks to David Miller, who posted 101 off 116 balls in a rescue act after irresistible new-ball spells from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc reduced the Proteas to 4-24.

South Africa's spinners then strangled their opponents on the crumbling surface before an inspired late spell from Gerald Coetzee (2-47) saw the fiery paceman remove Australia's last two recognised batters in Steve Smith (30) and Josh Inglis (28) with 20 still to win.

But Pat Cummins, for the third time this year after the Edgbaston Test and the Afghanistan miracle, held his nerve in a tense finish. The Australia captain hugged partner Mitchell Starc (14no) after cutting Marco Jansen for the match-winning boundary.

It sets up a mouth-watering decider in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Australia will be looking to maintain their strong 50-over legacy but will need to overcome hosts India who are yet to lose in this tournament.

The Proteas' record of never making a World Cup final meanwhile continues, having bowed out in a semi-final for the fifth time out of the nine tournaments they have played in.

"It was a tricky wicket throughout," said Starc, who finished with 3-34 after his most productive stint with the new ball of the tournament.

"I was pretty calm. I think Pat was pretty calm as well. And whilst it was pretty close, we had plenty of time. So nice to squeeze past and make it to a final.

"It's probably not been the tournament I would have liked (with the ball) from the get go, but nice to step up in a big game.

"I think our Powerplay was probably what got us on our way. There were other key moments through the day with bat and ball, but to start the game like that with Joshie and I … was nice."

Miller's sixth ODI century lifted his side to 212 (one off the total both these sides made in their famous 1999 semi-final tie) but that looked not nearly enough after Head and David Warner (29 off 18) knocked off more than a quarter of the required runs in just six overs.

Their boldness stood in stark contrast to the South African top-order's timidity – they had been 2-10 after eight overs – and the hot start proved pivotal to Australia's victory as Tabraiz Shamsi (2-40 off 10 overs) and Keshav Maharaj (1-24) proved a handful under lights.

Head rode his luck – he could have been out twice in one Coetzee over in offering tough chances to substitute fielder Reeza Hendricks and then the bowler – as Warner smashed four sixes in the Aussies' electrifying start to their chase.

But the Proteas came roaring back into contention as Mitch Marsh was out for a duck before Aiden Markram (1-23 off eight) and Maharaj both took wickets with their first balls.  

The energy of Shamsi brought the venue to life as more than 50,000 fans got behind his team, with the wrist-spinner dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in consecutive balls.

Even by Shamsi's standards, his celebration of Maxwell's was exuberant as he did a full lap of the wicket square and screamed towards the South Africa dugout.

Smith was out attempting an uncharacteristic hoick to leave his side 6-174 with 39 still needed for victory, but the tail saw out the remaining overs of Shamsi and Maharaj to prevail.

Gaining what had been tipped as the vital advantage of winning the toss, South Africa made a slow start in scoring just nine runs off the bat from the first 49 balls of the game. 

Hazlewood (2-18 from eight overs) was impeccable, taking advantage of tennis-ball bounce with the new ball to confound Quinton de Kock, out to an athletic Cummins catch, and Rassie van Der Dussen, but the paceman was puzzlingly not given his full 10-over allocation.

With Adam Zampa hit for six sixes on a tough afternoon for the leg-spinner (returning 0-55 from seven overs), Head stood in as he dismissed Klaasen and Jansen in consecutive balls to leave the Proteas reeling again at 6-119.

Miller was ecstatic after bringing up triple figures with his fifth six, belting Cummins over mid-wicket before raising his arms in furious celebration.

Warner and Labsuchagne led an inspired fielding effort that culminated with Glenn Maxwell taking a diving catch at long on to end South Africa's innings with two balls left to bat.

Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup fixtures

October 8: Lost to India by six wickets

October 12: Lost to South Africa by 134 runs

October 16: Beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

October 20: Beat Pakistan by 62 runs

October 25: Beat Netherlands by 309 runs

October 28: Beat New Zealand by five runs

November 4: Beat England by 33 runs

November 7: Beat Afghanistan by three wickets

November 11: Beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

November 16, semi-final: Beat South Africa by three wickets

November 19, final: Ahmedabad (D/N), 7.30pm AEDT

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

2023 World Cup standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 India Men IND	9	9	0	0	0	2.57	0	18
2 South Africa Men SA	9	7	2	0	0	1.261	0	14
3 Australia Men AUS	9	7	2	0	0	0.841	0	14
4 New Zealand Men NZ	9	5	4	0	0	0.743	0	10
5 Pakistan Men PAK	9	4	5	0	0	-0.199	0	8
6 Afghanistan Men AFG	9	4	5	0	0	-0.336	0	8
7 England Men ENG	9	3	6	0	0	-0.572	0	6
8 Bangladesh Men BAN	9	2	7	0	0	-1.087	0	4
9 Sri Lanka Men SL	9	2	7	0	0	-1.419	0	4
10 Netherlands Men NED	9	2	7	0	0	-1.825	0	4

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points