South Africas impressive performance continues as the proteas crashed Australia with a 134-run victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup match at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.The proteas comprehensive win was led by stellar hundred from Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markrams fifty, as well as impressive bowling performances by speedster Kagiso Rabada and spinner Keshav Maharaj propelling South Africa to the top of the point table with Net Run Rate(NRR) of +2.360 while, Australia has fallen ninth in the rankings, after losing both of their matches. Also, this is Australias biggest loss in World Cup history.🇿🇦 PROTEAS WIN 2️⃣ ON THE TROTAn incredible showing with both bat & ball to dominate the Aussies with a second victory in the #CWC23Congratulations to the team 🙌 #AusvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/qExHILNttQ— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 12, 2023 As it happenedWhile chasing the mammoth score of the 312-run target, Australian openers started reasonably well and were at 27/0. However, South African speedsters Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen turned the tide by dismissing the openers David Warner (13) and Mitchell Marsh (7), reducing Australia to 27/2 within powerplay.Steve Smith fails againThis is the second instance in the World Cup that Steve Smith failed to convert after getting a good start. The ace Aussie line-up was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada after scoring 19 runs off 16 balls including four boundaries. Australia was 50/3 at the end of the first powerplay.The lethal Rabada continues to sink in the Autsralias innings, removing wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis within single-digit scores while Keshav Maharaj removed Glenn Maxwell for mere three runs. Australia was reduced to 70/6 in 17.2 overs.Labuschagnes resilience goes in vainLabuschagne put up a small fight with Mitchell Starc, helping the Aussies to cross the 100-run mark in 25.2 overs. Their suffering was ended by Marco Jansen, who dismissed Starc for 27 off 51 balls. Followed by Marnus Labuschagnes dismissal on a Keshav Maharaj delivery, ending his fighting 74-ball 46-run knock. Australia was 143/8 in 34.4 overs.Skipper Pat Cummins tried his best to reduce the margin with his cameo of 22 runs before getting dismissed by spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. The last wicket came as Josh Hazlewood dismissed off Shamsis ball. Australia was reduced to a mere 177 runs in 40.5 oversKagiso Rabada was struck 3 for 33 and Keshav Maharaj scalped 2 for 30 was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa. Shamsi and Jansen claimed to take two wickets while Ngidi got one wicket.South Africas inningsEarlier, Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first in the highly anticipated match.🏏INNINGS BREAK 🇿🇦 Quinton de Kocks 💯 and Aiden Markrams 56 spearheaded the Proteas to a total 3️⃣1️⃣1️⃣/7️⃣ after 50 overs 🇦🇺 Australia need 3️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ runs to win 📺 SuperSport Grandstand 201 and SABC 3#CWC23 #AUSvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/CazrIjncR0— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 12, 2023 Left-handed opener Quinton de Kock started the South African innings aggressively, with striking boundaries in the powerplay. In contrast, Temba Bavuma played a cautious innings. The opening duo posted 108 runs partnership before the protest skipper was dismissed by Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell with a personal score of 35.Blitzing Hundred by Quinton de KockDe Kock was bowled by Glenn Maxwell after playing a superb century that set the tone for the South African innings. He scored 109 runs off 106 balls including eight boundaries and five big sixes.Back-to-back 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡-𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗦 💯#CWC23 #AUSvsSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/7NSggOICIX— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 12, 2023 Aiden Markram was the second-leading scorer of the South African innings scoring 56 runs off just 44 deliveries. Australian skipper Pat Cummins provided the crucial breakthrough as the batter was looking dangerous during his stay. South Africa posted 311 runs on the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs.Star allrounder Glenn Maxwell scalped two important wickets for the opening duo Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma. Australian speedster Mitchell Starc got two wickets, while Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Adam Zampa managed to scalp one wicket each.Brief scorecardSouth Africa: 311 (7 wkts, 50 Ov) Quinton de Kock 109, Aiden Markram 56, Temba Bavuma 35Mitchell Starc 2/53, Glenn Maxwell 2/34Australia: 177 (10 wkts, 40.5 Ov) Marnus Labuschagne 46, Mitchell Starc 27, Pat Cummins 22Kagiso Rabada 3/33, Keshav Maharaj 2/30Result: South Africa won by 134 runs
