NEW DELHI: South Africa's cricket coach, Rob Walter, vehemently dismissed suggestions that his team succumbed to World Cup semi-final nerves in their gripping three-wicket loss to Australia. Walter insisted that it "was nothing even remotely close to a choke" as the Proteas faced a challenging situation right from the start.
Electing to bat first, South Africa found themselves in trouble at 24-4 before a resilient century from David Miller lifted them to a total of 212 all out at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Despite a valiant effort from the bowlers, Australia managed to chase down the target with 16 balls to spare.
This marked South Africa's fifth defeat in a World Cup semi-final and their third against Australia, following similar outcomes in 1999 and 2007.
Walter, addressing the media, challenged the notion of a "choke," stating, "You need to define what a choke is. For me, a choke is losing a game that you're in a position to win. In this instance, we were behind the eight ball right from the word go, and we actually fought our way back into the competition and put up a score that gave us a chance."
He emphasised the team's resilience, saying, "Then they got off to a flyer, and we fought, and we put ourselves back into the game... so for me, there's nothing even remotely close to a choke that happened out there today. It's a serious contest between two good teams."
1/9:Head shines with the bat and ball
<p>Travis Head starred with bat and ball as Australia set up a World Cup final clash with India after a tense three-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday. Australia started the tournament with two losses but registered their eighth straight win. (Reuters Photo)<br /></p>
2/9:Australia wobble in chase of 213
<p>Chasing a tricky 213 for victory, Australia wobbled after Head hit 62 but Steve Smith (30) and Josh Inglis (28) helped the five-time champions reach their target with 16 balls to spare in the second semi-final in Kolkata. (IANS Photo)<br /></p>
3/9:South Africa lose fifth World Cup semi-final
<p>As Australia reached an eighth World Cup final, South Africa were left to rue a fifth semi-final loss despite David Miller's 101. Australia slipped to 137-5 and then 193-7 before Mitchell Starc (16) and skipper Pat Cummins (14) kept their nerve to steer the team home. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)<br /></p>
4/9:Head slams 9 fours and 2 sixes in 48-ball knock
<p>Left-hand batsman and part-time off-spinner Head stood out after taking two wickets and then with his 48-ball innings laced with nine fours and two sixes. (AFP Photo)<br /><br /></p>
5/9:Maharaj, Shamsi strike in quick succession
<p>Australia were in trouble when they were five down as spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi struck in quick succession to rattle the middle-order. Maharaj bowled Head, who was dropped on 40 and 57, and Shamsi, a left-arm wrist spinner, trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 18 and bowled Glenn Maxwell for one in his next over. (IANS Photo)<br /></p>
6/9:Starc leads Australia's bowling charge
<p>Starc led the bowling charge with figures of 3-34 and Cummins also picked three wickets to bowl out South Africa for 212 in 49.4 overs. Left-arm quick Starc struck in the first over to send back South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who had said he was not "100% fit" at the toss, for a fourth-ball duck. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Gallo Images)<br /></p>
7/9:Hazlewood gets rid of Quinton de Kock early
<p>Josh Hazlewood claimed the wicket of in-form Quinton de Kock for three as Cummins took a stunning catch. De Kock, who will quit one-day international after the World Cup, ended with 594 runs including four centuries to sit behind the tournament's leading batsman Virat Kohli (711). (IANS Photo)<br /></p>
8/9:South Africa slump to 24-4
<p>The new-ball Aussie bowlers kept up the attack with the wickets of Aiden Markram (10) and Rassie van der Dussen (six) as South Africa slumped to 24-4 and were 44-4 when rain interrupted play. (AFP Photo)<br /><br /></p>
9/9:Two-in-two for Head
<p>Klaasen and Miller hit back after the 45-minute rain break as the two put on 95 runs but Head broke through to bowl Klaasen for 47. Head trapped Marco Jansen lbw on the next delivery to be on a hat-trick, which was saved by Gerald Coetzee, who put on a 53-run partnership with Miller. (ANI Photo)<br /></p>South Africa have earned a reputation for "choking" in crucial matches, with notable instances in 1999, 2007, and 2015. However, Walter pointed out that the circumstances of this semi-final were different, highlighting the team's fightback.
Despite the semi-final setback, South Africa showcased impressive cricket in the group phase, winning seven out of nine matches. One of their notable victories included a convincing performance against Australia in Lucknow, where they piled up 311/7 and bowled out their rivals for just 177, securing a 134-run victory. In another remarkable feat, they set a World Cup record by scoring 428/5 in a win against Sri Lanka.
(With inputs from AFP)
