Australia advance to the final of the Cricket World Cup after beating South Africa to set up a showdown with hosts India

Australia will play India in the World Cup final on Sunday after imposing their big game on a South African side that once again fell short when it mattered.

Chasing 213 on a turning track at Eden Gardens after a David Miller century set off South Africa’s disastrous start, Australia made life difficult for themselves with a series of reckless knocks.

But Travis Head’s 62 off 48 balls had given them room to move, and even a slump to 193 for seven could not stop the Australians reaching an eighth one-day World Cup final.

“It’s been a nerve-wracking few hours,” said their captain Pat Cummins, who hit the winning runs with 16 balls to spare.

For South Africa, who have now lost seven of their seven semi-finals in the two white-ball formats, it was a painful end to a tournament in which their big knock was one of the highlights.

South Africa won the toss and bowled, but paid for that poor decision in Calcutta

At 24 for four in the 12th against the ruthless Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, their old tendency to crumble under pressure seemed to have returned.

And when Head struck twice in two balls with an occasional off-spin to make it 119 for six, Australia had one foot in the final.

But Miller kept South Africa in it before their spinners helped claw back a fast start. However, five chances were lost in the field, forcing South African coach Rob Walter to deny an old stereotype.

“To me, a choke is losing a match you can win,” he said. ‘But we were behind the eight ball from the start. There was nothing in it that came close to choking.”

Australia, who have won their last eight matches, will now travel to Ahmedabad to take on India who have won 10 of their 10 matches. Something will have to be done.

Captain Pat Cummins celebrates after taking a catch as South Africa fall to 24-4

David Miller steadied the ship with a strong century, but it wasn’t enough for the Proteas

Travis Head scored a half-century as Australia crawled to a total of 212 in South Africa