Cricket enthusiasts around the world are in for a thrilling showdown as Australia and South Africa prepare to lock horns in the tenth match of the ICC World Cup 2023. The game will be held at the prestigious Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, a venue known for its bowler-friendly conditions.
Australia, a five-time World Cup champion, currently ranks third in the ODI standings, while South Africa sits in fourth place. With such closely matched rankings, cricket fans can expect an intense contest between these two cricketing powerhouses.
In their opening encounter of the World Cup 2023, Australia faced defeat at the hands of India, losing by 6 wickets. On the other hand, South Africa secured a convincing victory by defeating Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their first match of the tournament.
Leading the Australian team is the formidable Pat Cummins, while the skipper of South Africa is the talented Temba Bavuma.
In the history of One Day International (ODI) matches between these two teams, Australia has won 50 out of the 108 contests, South Africa has emerged victorious in 54 matches, and three encounters ended in a tie, leaving one match without a result.
When it comes to ODI matches played on neutral grounds, Australia has the edge, having won 9 out of the 16 matches, with South Africa winning 7.
The rivalry between Australia and South Africa dates back to February 26, 1992, when they played their first ODI match, which South Africa won by 9 wickets. Their most recent encounter was on September 17, 2023, with South Africa emerging victorious with a margin of 112 runs.
Within the context of the World Cup, these teams have faced off five times, with two wins apiece and one match ending in a tie.
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, the stage for this exciting clash, is known for its bowler-friendly conditions. In an exclusive interview on the DAFA NEWS cricket show on NewsX, former Zimbabwean cricketer Christopher Mpofu shared his insights, noting that the pitch in Lucknow favors the bowlers, especially spinners. The slow-paced pitch creates difficulties for batsmen to line up their shots. As the match progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, providing additional assistance to fast bowlers who can utilize cutters and slower balls to dismiss batsmen.
