While South Africa have continued their strong start at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, the five-time record ODI World Cup winners Australia have suffered their second straight big defeat in the early of this tournament. During the Australia vs South Africa match, the Aussies suffered their record margin defeat in Cricket World Cup history, as the 40-year-old record was broken.
Lucknow hosted the important 10th game of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where the Aussie captain Pat Cummins chose to field first on the tricky and mystery pitch.
South Africa scored 311 runs, thanks to Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram
Australian players dropped almost six catches that became costly for the five-time ODI World Cup winners. South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock smashed his second successive century in the early period of this tournament as he scored 109 in 106 balls (eight fours and five sixes) against Australia before losing his wicket on an awkward unsuccessful reverse pull.
Aiden Markram, who recorded the fastest CWC century in their tournament opener against Sri Lanka, scored another quick half-century and got out on 56 in 44 balls (seven fours and only six). The other top and middle-order Proteas batters also provided good support as South Africa scored 311/7 in 50 overs.
Australia were all out for 177 runs, lost by 134 runs
Australia were never in a comfortable position at chasing as they were once struggling on 70/6 after their opening partnership break in 27 runs. Marnus Labuschagne’s 46 and Mitchell Starc’s (27) and skipper Pat Cummins’ (22) 20s couldn’t help much the Aussies, who were all out for only 177 runs.
South Africa won the match by 134 runs. While the Proteas have won two out of two games strongly, Australia suffered big defeats in their first two matches of the tournament.
Here are some crucial stats of the match result
South Africa won the match by 134 runs. Although it was their ninth-largest victory (by runs) in the CWC history, it was their third-largest ODI World Cup win (by runs) against an ICC Full Member/Test playing member.
South Africa’s largest CWC wins against ICC Full Members (Top 3)
Winning margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
257 runs | West Indies | Sydney | February 27, 2015 |
206 runs | Bangladesh | Mirpur | March 19, 2011 |
134 runs | Australia | Lucknow | October 12, 2023 |
(Updated October 12, 2023)
Australia lost the match by 134 runs. It was their largest ODI World Cup defeat (by runs) as the previous record was losing by 118 runs against India at Chelmsford at the Cricket World Cup 1983. The latest defeat was the third 100+ runs margin defeat for Australia in CWC history and the first since the 1983 World Cup.
Must Read | Aiden Markram Records Fastest World Cup Century
Australia’s largest CWC defeats (Top 3)
Losing margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
134 runs | South Africa | Lucknow | October 12, 2023 |
118 runs | India | Chelmsford | June 20, 1983 |
101 runs | West Indies | Leeds | June 11, 1983 |
(Updated October 12, 2023)
Australia’s embarrassing records at the end of South Africa match at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Australia first time lost four consecutive ODI World Cup matches. After losing against South Africa and England in their last two matches at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the Aussies suffered defeats in their first two games at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 against India and South Africa, respectively.
Also, it was the first time that Australia were all out in four consecutive ODI World Cup matches (vs South Africa and vs England in CWC 2019, and vs India and vs South Africa in CWC 2023).
It was the first time that Australia were bowled out for less than 200 runs in two consecutive ODI World Cup matches. After getting all out for 199 runs against India, Australia were bundled out for only 177 runs against South Africa.
