By Amlan Chakraborty
KOLKATA (Reuters) – South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat against Australia under an overcast sky in Kolkata in the second semi-final match of the 50-overs World Cup on Thursday.
There was uncertainty around Bavuma’s participation but the opener has recovered from a hamstring strain in time to be available for the match.
“I’m not 100% but it will be enough,” Bavuma said.
“It’s a massive occasion for me. I never dreamt I would have this responsibility for my country. I know that I am carrying the hopes of a lot of people back home.”
Australia welcomed back all-rounder Glenn Maxwell at the expense of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc also returned with Sean Abbott missing out.
“We would have had a bat as well but it’s pretty gloomy out there so maybe there will be a bit of swing early,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.
“They play a similar style to how we play. They match up similarly in all the roles and they’ve won the last few against us but I think we’re due,” he said about the contest.
India beat New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday to book their place in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.
Teams:
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in Kolkata; editing by Christina Fincher)
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