Australia's Cup campaign rocked by 10-run defeat to South Africa as injuries mount
Set 326 to win, Australia lost early wickets and Usman Khawaja retired hurt. A David Warner century and a stunning knock from Alex Carey gave hope but once they went all was lost. So England now await in the semi-finals.
The Ashes will receive the ultimate precursor with South Africa kicking Australia out of Manchester and on a collision course with England for a blockbuster World Cup semi-final on Thursday.
It will be a battered and bruised Australia that packs its bags for the two-hour drive to Birmingham on Sunday, left wounded by a combination of injuries and glaring form issues after a 10-run loss at Old Trafford.
While David Warner (122 off 117) and Alex Carey (85 off 69) did their best to paper over the cracks in the sandpaper reunion, a sloppy performance from several Aussies cost them the easy road to Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
Warner should’ve been run-out by Kagiso Rabada for none, but the throw went to the wrong end and he then ran South Africa ragged.
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Australia's David Warner celebrates after scoring a brilliant century. Picture: AP
The left-hander played some masterful strokes that were eventually matched by Carey, the World Cup’s shining light that is suddenly blindingly bright.
But after being set 326 for victory, after a commanding century by captain Faf du Plessis, Carey backed away and sliced one too many as he holed out with 51 runs still required off just 28 balls.
Australia then threw everything at the chase, including an injured Usman Khawaja, as the No.3 returned despite retiring with a hamstring injury, for which he will have scans on Sunday, on six runs.
Mitchell Starc and Khawaja drained 17 runs from the 48th over before Khawaja deflected a Rabada delivery onto his stumps to drain Australia’s hopes of staying in Manchester.
Australia's Usman Khawaja suffered a hamstring injury which puts his World Cup hopes in doubt. Picture: AFP
Khawaja hobbled OK between the wicket before that dismissal, but it was a chase that was already out of hand as South Africa, finally, finished a World Cup on a high note.
The equation entering the final group game was simple for the Aussies – defeat the disappointing Proteas to claim first place on the ladder and play at the same ground against the struggling Kiwis in Tuesday’s semi-final.
But as India overtook Australia in first place on the ladder, cruising to a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka, Steve Smith was given out lbw by Dwaine Pretorius after making just seven runs.
That left Australia 2/33, although effectively 3/33 given Khawaja’s injury. The medical drama didn’t end there.
Marcus Stoinis, still battling a side strain he picked up on June 9, has bowled just five overs in the past two games while Mitchell Starc (knee) appeared ginger despite claiming 2/59.
Marcus Stoinis struggled with the bat - and aggravated his side strain. Picture: Getty
The only Aussies busier than Warner and Carey were Cricket Australia head doctor Richard Saw and physiotherapist David Beakley.
The setbacks followed Shaun Marsh (broken arm) and Glenn Maxwell getting sent to hospital for X-rays on Thursday after a fiery training session that also saw Smith and Jason Behrendorff treated for minor finger injuries.
If Australia’s World Cup dream is ended by England at Edgbaston on Thursday, it may well reflect on that training session as the turning point.
As Australia walked into the nets that day the reigning champions appeared untouchable.
The players were refreshed after a few days off and, in New Zealand star Trent Boult’s eyes, they were clearly the team to beat.
South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis, right, celebrates with South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen after scoring a century. Picture: AP
But the Aussies left shaken by the thunderbolts from Starc and Pat Cummins that hospitalised Maxwell and Marsh respectively.
And their path to glory now includes knockout wins against England and then either India or New Zealand, with a shorter lead-in to Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
While left-armers Starc and Behrendorff took nine wickets in Australia’s 64-run win against England last month, the host nation has since flicked the switch.
Captain Eoin Morgan’s team has regained destructive opener Jason Roy and pounded fellow semi-finalists India and New Zealand to book the country’s first appearance in the last four since 1992.
In the backdrop was Jonny Bairstow blueing with Michael Vaughan, a sideshow that helped steel a team under mounting pressure.
Dwaine Pretorius celebrates the vital wicket of David Warner. Picture: Getty
The drama at Old Trafford was unthinkable. Coach Justin Langer promised “complacency” wouldn’t seep into after his team, which was the first to qualify for the final four.
“There’s no way we’ll ever get complacent. Not with what’s happened the last 12 months,” Langer said.
The week before, Langer said: “One thing you will not have to worry about, from where we have come from over the last 12 months, is the Australian cricket team being complacent.
“Do not lose one second sleep about it.”
But the power-play bowling suggested otherwise. While the Aussies had a six-day break it looked like they had closer to six weeks off as their battle-hardened edge diminished.
Starc (0/26) was given just three overs and Behrendorff (0/16) only two before being replaced as they failed to attack the stumps enough, given the flat pitch’s lack of swing.
Spinner Nathan Lyon was surprisingly called on to bowl the sixth over and he bowled with missile-like accuracy all day.
Nathan Lyon was brought into the attack early, and it paid dividends. Picture: Getty
Lyon removed both openers – a beautiful drifting ball fooled Aiden Markram, who was stumped by Alex Carey, and that defensive control eventually saw Quinton de Kock hit out and get out.
Given Maxwell (0/57 off 10 overs) and Smith (0/5 off one over) were also tidy, you wondered why the Aussies left out leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
It seemed the faster you bowled the further they hit you and South Africa was 0/73 after the power-play, crunching a tournament-record 12 boundaries.
Australia’s start with the bat was just as sloppy.
Warner should’ve been run out for none and then Smith should’ve been run-out for two, but Rabada, again, fluffed a simple chance.
Alex Carey walks off after a pulsating and near matchwinning innings. picture: AFP
Eventually, the luck ran out as Stoinis (22 off 34) was run-out by a clever backhanded flick by de Kock.
Langer said pre-game Stoinis had to start his innings with more energy and while the under-fire allrounder took 14 balls to get off the mark, he then played four beautiful boundaries.
The raucous celebrations for every wicket showed how much du Plessis’s men enjoyed their sweet encore to the sandpaper scandal that rocked Australian cricket.
And, on the eve of the finals, cracks in this Australian team were wedged open by their rivals.
Last over of the day, 18 needed. Phehlukwayo with the honour.
First ball is filth and Behrendorff smashes it away for three runs. Lyon slices the next for a single.
Then it's all over, or is it? No, it's not, Behrendorff dashes for two and it's a tight one, De Kock knocking off the bails but the batsman was home.
And so we play on.
A slower ball is sliced down to long-off, just a single off it, which puts Lyon on strike.
He gives it his best but his best can only launch the ball in to the hands of Markram at deep midwicket.
Lyon is out, Australia's innings comes to an end and South Africa win by 10 runs.
Australia will play England at Edgbaston on Thursday, New Zealand face India at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the other semi-final.
It was a match Australia were never in, until they were, thanks to David Warner and Alex Carey.
Defeat but a display of resolve and fight and refusal to fold will be something to draw on for the remaining two (hopefully) matches in this campaign.
SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 10 RUNS
Steve Wilson
Last over of the day, 18 needed. Phehlukwayo with the honour.
First ball is filth and Behrendorff smashes it away for three runs. Lyon slices the next for a single.
Then it's all over, or is it? No, it's not, Behrendorff dashes for two and it's a tight one, De Kock knocking off the bails but the batsman was home.
And so we play on.
A slower ball is sliced down to long-off, just a single off it, which puts Lyon on strike.
He gives it his best but his best can only launch the ball in to the hands of Markram at deep midwicket.
Lyon is out, Australia's innings comes to an end and South Africa win by 10 runs.
Australia will play England at Edgbaston on Thursday, New Zealand face India at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the other semi-final.
It was a match Australia were never in, until they were, thanks to David Warner and Alex Carey.
Defeat but a display of resolve and fight and refusal to fold will be something to draw on for the remaining two (hopefully) matches in this campaign.
Goodnight sweetheart.
Starc gets a taste of his own medicine as Rabada sends down a beats of a cross seam delivery that sends the pegs flying across the turf and the tailender batsman walking back to the sheds.
He probably can't appreciate it now, but in a small part of him Starc must be mighty impressed by how Rabada has closed out these last couple of overs.
Australia need 18 off the last over to win …
STARC GONE!
Steve Wilson
Goodnight sweetheart.
Starc gets a taste of his own medicine as Rabada sends down a beats of a cross seam delivery that sends the pegs flying across the turf and the tailender batsman walking back to the sheds.
He probably can't appreciate it now, but in a small part of him Starc must be mighty impressed by how Rabada has closed out these last couple of overs.
Australia need 18 off the last over to win …
So here we are, 25 needed off 12 balls after three boundaries come off the 47th over, Khawaja adding four and Starc going big with a six over midwicket that would still be travelling now had it not hit the stand out there.
That's 17 off the over all told.
Another one of th … ah … first ball of the next over and a Rabada yorker cleans out Khawaja's stumps after he backed away looking for room to strike it big.
That was 18 off 14 balls in two sessions for Khawaja who came out again despite having knackered his hamstring earlier on in the piece.
Can't fault his ticker, but he was doen all ends up there buy a fine delivery from the South African quick.
Bah!
KHAWAJA GONE!
Steve Wilson
So here we are, 25 needed off 12 balls after three boundaries come off the 47th over, Khawaja adding four and Starc going big with a six over midwicket that would still be travelling now had it not hit the stand out there.
That's 17 off the over all told.
Another one of th … ah … first ball of the next over and a Rabada yorker cleans out Khawaja's stumps after he backed away looking for room to strike it big.
That was 18 off 14 balls in two sessions for Khawaja who came out again despite having knackered his hamstring earlier on in the piece.
Can't fault his ticker, but he was doen all ends up there buy a fine delivery from the South African quick.
Bah!
And so the dream dies …
The details are as follows, but all you really need to know is that Carey's sensational innings has come to an end and so has any chance of Australia getting over the line.
Morris sent the ball down, Carey backed away to forge some room for a big swing at it, mistimed it slightly and only ended up picking out the off-side sweeper, Markram, who dived forward to take the catch that has won South Africa the match.
CAREY GONE for 85 of 69 balls, one of the great ODI innings goes unrewarded by victory.
Khawaja hobbles out to complete his own innings. Don't be expecting him to run for any smart singles, mind.
CAREY GONE, AND THAT'S THE MATCH
Steve Wilson
And so the dream dies …
The details are as follows, but all you really need to know is that Carey's sensational innings has come to an end and so has any chance of Australia getting over the line.
Morris sent the ball down, Carey backed away to forge some room for a big swing at it, mistimed it slightly and only ended up picking out the off-side sweeper, Markram, who dived forward to take the catch that has won South Africa the match.
CAREY GONE for 85 of 69 balls, one of the great ODI innings goes unrewarded by victory.
Khawaja hobbles out to complete his own innings. Don't be expecting him to run for any smart singles, mind.
Carey loses another partner, with Cummins trying to go big and ending up going out.
It wasn't anything special from Phehlukwayo that did the damage, but Cummins, who made room for himself to unleash the big heave, didn't connect cleanly enough and ended up skying it almost straight up in to the evening air in Manchester. When it finally came down, Duminy was underneath it at long off and took a catch he had an age to set himself for.
CUMMINS GONE for nine of 15 balls, and as importantly the over goes for just five. Starc the next man in.
CUMMINS GONE!
Steve Wilson
Carey loses another partner, with Cummins trying to go big and ending up going out.
It wasn't anything special from Phehlukwayo that did the damage, but Cummins, who made room for himself to unleash the big heave, didn't connect cleanly enough and ended up skying it almost straight up in to the evening air in Manchester. When it finally came down, Duminy was underneath it at long off and took a catch he had an age to set himself for.
CUMMINS GONE for nine of 15 balls, and as importantly the over goes for just five. Starc the next man in.
