Smarting from their opening game defeat against India, a determined Australian team will be aiming to put up a much better batting performance with a rejigged playing eleven against an upbeat South Africa in a World Cup encounter today.
The five-time champions’ World Cup campaign was off to a worst possible start as they were handed a six-wicket drubbing by hosts India.
The Proteas will head into the contest, high on confidence, having thrashed Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their opener. With the win, they announced themselves as contenders.
It is not so much the defeat, but the manner in which Australia conceded the game that will certainly be a headache for the team management.
The batting lacked aggression. Apart from David Warner and Steve Smith, no one breached the 30-run mark as they once again lost wickets in clutches.
The Australians struggled against India’s quality spin attack on a slow Chepauk turner and lack of second frontline spinner save Adam Zampa also compounded their problems.
To add to their woes, Mitchell Marsh, who generally has a safe pair of hands, dropped a simple catch that could have potentially changed the complexion of the game.
Adding an extra layer of intensity to this encounter, South Africa recently triumphed over the Aussies in a series, further fueling the flames of this fierce rivalry.
With both teams boasting formidable line-ups, it’s a match that promises thrilling action and nail-biting moments.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, a venue chosen to host a total of five fixtures in the 2023 World Cup edition, is the stage for this much-awaited showdown.
Looking ahead, the iconic stadium will also have the honour of hosting the high-profile World Cup clash between cricketing powerhouses India and England, making it a true cricketing epicentre in this edition of the tournament.
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