Australia Crushed by South Africa in Second Cricket World Cup Match

Australia is now 0-2 at the Cricket World Cup after losing to South Africa by an eyepopping 134 runs. 

Australia came into this Cricket World Cup on the back of some less-than-ideal results. Nonetheless, they were still penned as one of the favourites to win it all. Two matches in, they are 0-2 and sitting at the very bottom of the table as their hopes of world supremacy have dwindled.

Australia Vs. South Africa Match Recap 

Australia, coming off their opening match defeat to hosts India once again won the pre-game toss but this time elected to send South Africa to bat first.  
 
The Proteas, who won their first match of the tournament jumped on the Aussie bowlers early and quickly put them in a sticky situation.  
 
Quinton De Kock and Temba Bavuma opened the match for South Africa and did not disappoint.  
 
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took turns going back and forth trying to oust the South African batsmen to no avail early. They then took a shot with both Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins who were equally unsuccessful at finding a wicket for the Aussies. 
 
They kept searching, sending both Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa in but the Proteas batsmen were unfazed. The duo of De Kock and Bavuma took their country all the way to 108-0 before Glenn Maxwell was able to force Bavuma to sweep a ball to David Warner for Australia’s first wicket of the day.  
 
De Kock however kept on ticking as Rassie van der Dussen then Aidan Markram joined him in the middle en route to a tally of 109 before losing his wickets to Glenn Maxwell.  
 
Markram made it to 56 before being ousted and after that Australia settled into place but the damage had already been done. South Africa finished on 311-7 leaving a big number for the Aussies to chase.  
 
Suspect bowling along with a host of fielding gaffs put Australia in a tough situation as they came to bat.  
 
Their performance that followed was less than inspiring.  
 
Mitchell Marsh and David Warner once again started off batting for Australia but were both disappointing knocking just seven and 13, respectively.  
 
Steve Smith didn’t fare much better as after just 19 runs he was controversially given out. Josh Inglis claimed just five runs before being clean-bowled by Kagiso Rabada.  
 
Marnus Labuschagne was the only Aussie to score more than 30 runs as his 46 led the way. The rest of the Aussie order was simply unable to solve the bowling of the South Africans as they worked their way to just 177 all out.  
 
The 134-run loss is the biggest margin of defeat for an Australian side ever at a Cricket World Cup. 

Captain Pat Cummins Under Scrutiny 

Pat Cummins squad selections came into question following the loss as his decisions to replace Alex Carey with Josh Inglis and Cameron Green with Marcus Stoinis did not pay dividends. Inglis put up just five runs a made a couple of big mistakes as wicketkeeper while Stoinis also put up five and wasn’t much involved as a bowler.  
 
Former Aussie Captain Michael Clarke questioned Cummins’ decisions following the loss outlining he still feels Cummins is the right man for the job but saying “tactically last night I think he got it wrong again.” 

Australia is Down, But not Out 

Though an 0-2 start is certainly not what Australian fans or players had in their minds at the onset of the World Cup, Australia is still very much alive. With seven games remaining, they will likely need six wins to give themselves a chance.  
 
With the talent on their squad, this is certainly a possibility, but they will have to collectively raise their level to do so. 

Australia has stumbled off the blocks at the Cricket World Cup. Their opening match loss to India was followed up by a 134-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa. The Aussies will need to drastically improve their play in all aspects of the game if they hope to keep their World Cup aspirations alive.