Australia missed five chances in a poor fielding performance against South Africa in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Quinton de Kock scored his second century of the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday, leading South Africa to a 311-7 victory over sloppy five-time winners Australia, who lost five catches. De Kock, 30, scored his 19th ODI century off 90 balls with eight fours and five sixes. He also scored a century in South Africa’s opening triumph over Sri Lanka. De Kock, who will retire from international cricket at the end of the competition, was batting at the Ekana Stadium, where he plays for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.
In the 35th over, he was bowled for 109 by off-spinner Glenn Maxwell while attempting a reverse sweep.
“I’m tired of seeing him score runs; it seems like it happens a lot against us.” “He’s a superstar,” Maxwell stated during the inning break.
South Africa were on 197-3 when De Kock left, and Aiden Markram took over as captain.
Markram raced to 56 after reaching the fastest World Cup century off 49 balls in Australia’s triumph over Sri Lanka, capitalizing on being dropped by Australia skipper Pat Cummins when he had just struck a single.
Australia had a bad day on the field as South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was dropped twice on 19 and 32.
Mitchell Marsh benched Virat Kohli in their first game when he was on 12. Kohli then hit a match-winning 85.
Bavuma’s luck ran out on 35 when David Warner caught him at midwicket off Maxwell.
The skipper and De Kock put on 108 for the first wicket.
Following Markram’s dismissal by Cummins, the Proteas saw Marco Jansen (26) and David Miller (17) lead them past 300.
Miller and Jansen both fell in Mitchell Starc’s final delivery, a double-wicket maiden.
When Starc dropped Miller and Marcus Stoinis gave Jansen a lifeline off Cummins in the penultimate over, they should have been dismissed.
“They were well ahead and on track for 350-plus but in the last 15 overs we pulled it back well and took wickets regularly,” Maxwell said.
“We’re proud of how we pulled it back.”
