Cricket fans stunned as South Africa set eerily similar target for Australia at the World Cup as Egbaston classic in 1999
- Australia and South Africa have recreated a famous piece of cricket history
- South Africa set a target of 213 runs for the Aussies in the World Cup semi-final
- That song was made famous by the two sides during the 1999 competition
Australia defeated South Africa by an under-par 212 despite David Miller’s challenging 101 in the second semi-final of the 50-over World Cup at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Temba Bavuma’s decision to bat under overcast skies backfired and South Africa fell to 24-4 inside 12 overs before light rain halted play.
Australia were accurate with the ball and agile in the field, turning up the heat on their rivals.
Miller and Heinrich Klaasen (47) arrested the slide after play resumed with a 95-run partnership, but Travis Head’s double put Australia back in the lead.
Miller beat Pat Cummins with a six to bring up his hundred, but fell into the same as he tried to clear the rope again.
Cummins and Mitchell Starc claimed three wickets each for five-time champions Australia.
Fans on Twitter were left stunned after a relic of cricket folklore surfaced in Calcutta on Thursday.
Australia’s target of 213 runs is exactly the same number that both teams scored in the ODI World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston in 1999.
A dramatic defeat in the final leveled the scores and meant Australia progressed to the final at Lord’s thanks to their better finish in the group stage. They went on to win the showpiece match against Pakistan by eight wickets.
In a similar scenario in Kolkata, South Africa would advance as they finished above Australia in the group stage this year.
India defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday to book a place in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.