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[Saba Sports News] Ex-South Africa Captain Faf du Plessis Reflects on Loss to Australia in ODI World Cup Semi-Final
Faf du Plessis, the former captain of the South African cricket team, recently shed light on the factors that led to their defeat in the ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia. The team was knocked out of the competition following a close three-wicket defeat at the hands of Pat Cummins’ Australian team at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on November 16. This semi-final turned out to be a gripping, low-scoring contest, with Australia narrowly achieving the target of 213 runs in 47.2 overs.
Du Plessis pointed out the unforeseen ball swing at Eden Gardens as a critical factor affecting their play. The 39-year-old emphasized how the significant swing made the pitch quite challenging, especially in the initial phase of the match. He praised the Australian pace attack for their expertise, noting that the five-time World Cup winners implemented a strategy akin to Test cricket.
“In the first hour, the conditions were gloomy and overcast, leading everyone to expect a better pitch performance, especially on such a dry surface. The amount of swing in the air and on the pitch during that first hour caught many of us off guard, turning it into a very tricky pitch initially. However, credit must be given to the Australian fast bowlers,” remarked Faf du Plessis.
He added, “Australia approached the game almost like Test cricket, perfectly executing their plan and significantly undermining the South African team.”
Du Plessis also discussed how South Africa consistently lagged behind in the game, eventually setting a score of 212. He recognized the resilient innings of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller under tough conditions. Miller made an impressive century with 101 runs, while Klaasen contributed a vital 47 runs, compensating for the shortfall from other batters.
“Kudos to Klaasen and Miller for bringing us back into contention, but we were likely around 20 runs short for such a pitch,” Du Plessis concluded.