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After losing their first two games of the World Cup tournament, including a battering by South Africa, Australia joined India in Sunday’s final after they won by three wickets.

Winning the toss, The Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma opted to try and get runs on the board, so his fearsome bowling attack can do all they can to defend their score later.

Sadly for South Africa in a rain-interrupted innings, they stuttered to 24-4. When I saw such a score, my mind thought my classmates were getting the band back together for one last time.

Henrich Klassen (47) and David Miler (101) helped Temba’s men get back into the game. Sadly, however, from the South African perspective, another five wickets were lost in quick succession.

So from 119-5, the South Africans were shot all out for 212. At this point, Australia were overwhelming favourites, but boy were they made to work for their win.

The Baggy Green raced to 60-0 in the first eight overs. That’s when the pendulum started to swing. First David Warner was out bowled, and then Mitch Marsh was out for a six-ball duck.

What was a wobble in the innings for Australia, although a concern wasn’t a situation of where panic stations would be needed.

When Travis Head was out, the score was 106-3, Australia seemed to be in control of the situation, but then wickets started to fall and Pat Cummins’ Australia were 137-5.

That meant that the five-time World Champions needed just 75 to win, just 75 the scoreboard says. The Kolkata pitch was very lively, one which was spin-friendly indeed.

South Africa’s two key spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, dragged their side back into the contest.

Two wickets from Gerald Coetzee, allowed South Africa to reel themselves even more in what was becoming a game evenly poised and one that was on a knife edge.

To add to the drama, South Africa did have some half-chances, such as Coetzee’s missed caught and bowled chance.

After surviving those chances, Australia edged closer and closer, Ultimately it was left to the experienced bowling pair of Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc to see Australia home.

So, India and Australia will play each other in the final. India fans, don’t think this is a foregone conclusion. The tourists have got better along the way.

Write them off at your peril.

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