‘Bahut Badhiya ‘- Fans react to South Africa beating Australia by 134 runs to win their second game of ODI World Cup 2023

Australia’s miserable start to the ODI World Cup 2023 continued after loss to South Africa on Thursday in Lucknow. Pat Cummins-led side had lost their opening game of the tournament to India on Sunday. The loss in Chennai was heartbreaking after Australia had India on the ropes at 2/3.

The South Africans on the other hand had beaten Sri Lanka in New Delhi by 102 runs to start their campaign. The Proteas on Thursday totally outclassed the five-time World Cup winners. The Australians were outplayed in all departments of the game by the spirited Temba Bavuma-led outfit

Australia chose to bowl first after Pat Cummins had won the toss. Australia had Stoinis and Inglis replacing Green and Carey. Tabraiz Shamsi came in for quick bowler Gerald Coetzee for the South Africans.

South Africa outplays Australia to heap more misery on Pat Cummins –

Quinton De Kock raced off to a quick start as he pumped the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. The 30-year-old scored 109 which was his second successive ton of the ODI World Cup 2023 campaign.

Aiden Markram was in the thick of the action once again on Thursday by scoring 44-ball 56 runs. This was yet another blistering innings by the 29-year-old who had set the record for the fastest 100 in ODI World Cup history against Sri Lanka.

The Australians did not help themselves by dropping 7 catches during their bowling innings. It was unlike Australia which is known to be a great fielding side, even the bowling was lackluster. Maxwell with 2 for 34 and Starc with 2 for 53 were the only bowlers to keep Australia in the hunt.

Chasing 312 to win none of the batters apart from a brief stand between Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc put up a fight. Mitchell Marsh was out cheaply when he fell for 7. David Warner could only score 13 before he was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi.

There was a huge middle-order collapse which saw Australia struggle at 70 for 6. There was a 69-run stand between Labuschagne and Starc that entertained hopes of a fightback. That though was done for when Jansen got Starc out for 27. Despite some late-order hitting by Cummins the South Africans held their own to win the game by 134 runs.

Here’s how the fans reacted –