Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc embrace each other to celebrate the win that takes them to the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 as Keshav Maharaj sits dejected, reflecting the mood in the South African camp
Australian cricket coach and former batsman Ricky Ponting rings the bell at the Eden Gardens to mark the start of the second semi-final as Cricket Association of Bengal president Snehasish Ganguly looks on
All photographs by Ashim PaulThe gleaming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy is carried out to the field
Team Australia sings the national anthem at the beginning of the match
The Proteas sing their national anthem
Pat Cummins catches one off Josh Hazlewood to dismiss Quinton de Kock for just 3. South Africa were two down in the sixth over, skipper Temba Bavuma having been sent home for a duck in the first over by Mitchell Starc
A Proteas fan with face paint and flag in hand cheers for his team
Former Team India skipper and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly waves at fans
Spotted: Indranil Halder, an Australian-Indian Bengali was in the stands, donning an Australian flag in support of his team. Confident of the Aussies’ ticket to the final, Halder said, “I am sure Australia will win the match to go to the final. The ambience is great here today. If Australia wins the World Cup, it will ensure easy business collaboration. Both countries (India and Australia) will gain great momentum in their economic, cultural and sporting relationships”
Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins celebrate an Aussie wicket
The skies darkened around 3 in the afternoon and out came the covers to protect the pitch and field. Play resumed after a 40-minute break
David Miller raises his bat after hitting a century. He fell to Pat Cummins soon after, caught by Travis Head. The hard-hitting batsman almost single-handedly built South Africa’s total of 212. Heinrich Klassen, also dismissed by Head, scored 47. The rest of the South African batsmen could barely make it to double figures
Travis Head hits his half century. He went on to score a crucial 62 before he fell to Keshav Maharaj. He was declared Player of the Match for his knock
Tabraiz Shamsi rejoices after taking the prized wicket of Glen Maxwell