Faf du Plessis celebrates after scoring his 12th ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis scored a brilliant century to lead his side to a 10-run win over Australia in Manchester.
Since Australia lost and India beat Sri Lanka, they will face England in the semi-finals while India will take on New Zealand.
Choosing to bat first, South Africa got off to a strong start as Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock amassed a 79-run partnership before Markram was stumped by Alex Carey off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 34.
De Kock went on to score a 51-ball 52, which included seven boundaries, before he was dismissed by Lyon.
Du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen stabilised the innings with a 151-run partnership, during which Du Plessis brought up his hundred and Van der Dussen his fifty, before Du Plessis was removed by Jason Behrendorff for 100, which came off 94 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.
Mitchell Starc took out JP Duminy and Dwaine Pretorius in quick succession, but with Van der Dussen going on to score a career-best 95, which came off 97 balls and included four boundaries and four sixes, South Africa finished on 325/6.
Lyon and Starc picked up two wickets apiece, while Behrendorff and Pat Cummins chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 326 to win, Australia lost captain Aaron Finch early on as he was caught by Markram at short cover off the bowling of Imran Tahir for three runs.
Usman Khawaja retired hurt after injuring his hamstring, but returned towards the end of the innings and managed to score 18 before he was clean bowled by Kagiso Rabada.
Shortly after Khawaja retired hurt, Australia were dealt another big blow as Steve Smith was given out lbw off the bowling of Pretorius.
David Warner and Marcus Stoinis halted South Africa’s charge with a 62-run partnership before Stoinis was run out by Rabada for 22.
Glenn Maxwell only made 12 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Rabada.
Warner and Carey steadied things with a 108-run partnership, during which Warner registered his hundred and Carey his fifty, before Warner was removed by Pretorius for a 117-ball 122, which included 15 boundaries and two sixes.
David Warner’s 17th ODI hundred went in vain
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Cummins fell shortly after, while Carey struck a career-best 85, which came off 69 balls and included 11 boundaries and a six, before he was sent packing by Chris Morris.
Australia began to lose wickets in a hurry after Carey’s dismissal and they were eventually bowled out for 315.
Rabada was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo took two wickets apiece. As for Tahir and Morris, they claimed one wicket each.
Du Plessis was named Man of the Match.