ICC World Cup 2023: With rain forecast in Kolkata, South Africa faces ‘chasing’ dilemma in semifinal towards Australia

“Win the toss and bat first” is an adage nearly as outdated as cricket. It is mostly believed that making the primary use of a pitch is sort of all the time the correct transfer. It provides the batters an opportunity to bat when the observe is supposedly at its finest. And in Indian situations, batting first has been a no brainer typically.

So, when Australia takes on South Africa within the second 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal on the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, one would assume typical knowledge will reign supreme.

The numbers batting first on this World Cup for each groups additional reaffirm this perception. The Proteas have racked up 4 totals greater than 350: 428/5 vs. Sri Lanka, 399/7 vs. England, 382/5 vs. Bangladesh, and 357/4 vs. New Zealand, whereas the Aussies have achieved it thrice: 367/9 vs. Pakistan, 399/8 vs. the Netherlands, and 388 vs. New Zealand.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s two defeats on this event have come whereas batting second, towards India and the Netherlands, and it solely averted defeat to Pakistan with a slim one-wicket win. 

On the opposite hand, the Aussies come into the semifinals having aced two chases, versus Afghanistan and Bangladesh, in two contrasting conditions. 

Mitchell Marsh smacked a 132-ball 177 as Australia reached its goal of 307 towards Bangladesh with 32 balls to spare. Earlier, Glenn Maxwell had hit a jaw-dropping double hundred to raise his staff from a precarious 91 for seven, chasing 292 towards Afghanistan.

That mentioned, the climate may additionally influence the choices on the toss. There is rain forecast for Thursday in Kolkata, and groups usually wish to know what they’re chasing in such conditions.

Of course, South Africa has a chequered previous in the case of rain. South Africa, in its first World Cup in 1992, was on the cusp of reaching the ultimate when rain stopped play, with 22 wanted off 13 balls for victory towards England.

But, by the point rain stopped simply 12 minutes later, the equation learn an unimaginable 22 off one ball underneath the then guidelines governing rain-affected matches.

Clearly, historical past, numbers and type will play on the minds of Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins once they stroll out for the toss in Kolkata.