ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: Proteas claim dominant win over Australia. Australia suffered their heaviest Cricket World Cup defeat as Quinton de Kock’s century guided South Africa to a dominant 134-run victory in Lucknow.
A sloppy Australia dropped five catches, which put them on the backfoot as South Africa posted 311-7 thanks to more brilliance from De Kock (109), who scored his second century in as many matches.
Australia could only muster 177 in reply and are one of four teams still without a win – Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Afghanistan being the others – after they lost their opening game to tournament hosts India by six wickets at the weekend.
Australia won the toss and elected to bowl on a relaid pitch but were sloppy on the field, dropping five catches before getting bowled out for 177 – its second below-200 total in the tournament.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada picked up 3-33 and Keshav Maharaj clamped the batters by chipping in 2-30 in a 10-over spell.
Only Glenn Maxwell (2-34) showed some spark with his offspin bowling in an otherwise poor day on the field for Australia.
Australia were chasing 312 to win but found themselves five wickets down for 65. A DRS decision left Steve Smith bewildered as the batter thought the ball was missing leg stump.
