Match 5, Birmingham, July 05, 2024, 05:00 PM
230/5(20.0ov)
126/9(20.0ov)
Australia Champions beat South Africa Champions by 104 runs
Right then, that is it from this one-sided affair where Australia Champions do a demolition job over the South Africa Champions. However, we have another exciting clash coming up in the WCL 2024 where India Champions will take on West Indies Champions. That game will be starting in a short while and you can just switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of the match. Cheers!
Nathan Coulter-Nile is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his superb bowling spell. He says that he was taken down in the previous game and was looking to come back stronger which happened in this game and he calls it a lucky day. He says that he was in the gym and working out even before he was called for this tournament and he is glad he did and he has the chance to play for his country again.
Brett Lee, the victorious skipper of Australia Champions says that he is proud of his team for the way they have played in this game. Adds that it was not a 230 wicket, maybe it was around 200 but it was great to see the batters having fun out there. Says that seeing Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh playing some of the shots made him think that they could still be playing for the national team but it is up to them. Mentions that tournaments like this give him and the others a nice opportunity to get back in the game and have fun. Says that when the fixtures come thick and fast, it is all about managing the bodies and they hope that they can be injury-free for the rest of the competition.
Jacques Kallis, the captain of South Africa Champions says that Australia came out and batted really well and says that sometimes plans don't work if the opposition is playing the way Australia played in this game. He adds that they will be looking to be ready for the next game. He finally says that if he seems fit to bowl he will be bowling in the upcoming matches.
Presentation Time...
Earlier in the game, Australia Champions posted the biggest total of this tournament so far with contributions from almost every other batter who went out to the middle. They got to 230 runs without any of the batters reaching fifty which says how well their batting unit played. JP Duminy and Ryan McLaren got a couple of wickets each for South Africa Champions while Imran Tahir picked up one but was pretty expensive as well. It was always going to be tough chasing this total down, and the Proteas never really looked like getting close to the target whatsoever and ultimately lost the game by a whopping margin of 104 runs.
Australia Champions got off to the perfect start defending this big score, when Brett Lee got rid of Richard Levi with the first delivery of this chase. He then went on to dismiss Jacques Kallis in his next over making it even more difficult for South Africa Champions. Neil McKenzie looked in good touch and was finding the boundaries, but he kept losing partners at the other and with the asking rate always creeping up, he too was sent back to the hut. Ryan McLaren played some lusty blows towards the end but it was never going to be enough. Nathan Coulter-Nile was magnificent picking up three wickets for just seven runs while Xavier Doherty also got three scalps as they ran through the middle order of the Proteas. Dan Christian chipped in with one at the death and it was a complete team performance from the Australia Champions.
Absolute domination from the Aussies! Australia Champions open their account in the WCL 2024 and in some style as well. They have been the better side here right from the start and outplayed the South Africa Champions in all three departments who takes another massive hit to their NRR. It will be really hard for the Proteas to get back in this tournament now.
In over# 20
1
1
0
0
6
0
Dan Christian 9/1(2)
19.6
1
That's it then! Dan Christian bowls it short and Ryan McLaren taps the ball towards point for a single and Australia Champions win the game by 104 runs.
19.5
1
Fuller on the stumps. Charl Langeveldt drives the ball to long on for a single.
19.4
.
Just short on the leg stump line and Charl Langeveldt gets a hit on the pads just outside the line of the leg stump.
19.3
.
Fuller on the off stump line. Charl Langeveldt blocks it off well.
19.2
6
SIX! Slog sweep from Charl Langeveldt and the ball flies over deep mid-wicket for a flat SIX!
19.1
.
Fuller on the off stump. Charl Langeveldt drives the ball to covers.
In over# 19
0
0
1
1
1
1
Ben Laughlin 19/0(3)
18.6
.
Fuller outside the off stump line. Ryan McLaren looks to drive the ball but misses it completely.
18.5
.
Short and wide outside the off stump. Ryan McLaren cuts the ball straight to point.
18.4
1
Short again on the stumps. Charl Langeveldt flicks the ball to deep square leg for a single.
18.3
1
Just short at the stumps. Ryan McLaren taps the ball to long off for a single.
