Some of the most entertaining and memorable cricket moments in the history of the ODI World Cup have come from the rivalry between Australia and South Africa. On the international stage, both sides have demonstrated tremendous talent, tenacity, and sportsmanship.
In this article, let’s take a look at the head-to-head results between Australia and South Africa in the ODI World Cup.
Australia and South Africa have met 7 times in ICC ODI World Cup events.
Out of these 7 games, Australia has won 3 of them, while South Africa has won 2; one match ended in a tie.
Australia vs South Africa: All Results In ODI World Cups
| Date | Winner | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 26, 1992 | South Africa by 9 wickets | Sydney |
| June 13, 1999 | Australia by 5 wickets | Leeds |
| June17, 1999 | Tied | Birmingham |
| March 24, 2007 | Australia by 83 runs | Basseterre |
| April 25, 2007 | Australia by 7 wickets | Gros Islet |
| July 6, 2019 | South Africa by 10 runs | Manchester |
| October 12, 2023 | South Africa won by 134 runs | Lucknow |
1992: Sydney
The first meeting between Australia and South Africa dates back to the 1992 World Cup. The Australian batsmen failed to put on a show, scoring only 170 and losing nine wickets in 49 overs (the game was truncated to 49 overs a side due to rain). Kepler Wessels (81*), Andrew Hudson (28) and Gary Kirsten (49*) were more than enough to knock down the target, winning by 9 wickets.
1999: Leeds and Birmingham
It was unfortunate for the Proteas that, after such a convincing victory, they never won another World Cup game against Australia for a long time. In the Super Six stage of the 1999 World Cup, they met for the second time.
South Africa, after riding on Herschelle Gibbs’ 101 runs, put in 271 runs on the board. However, Australia won the match by five wickets after chasing down 272 in the last over.
This match is remembered for Steve Waugh’s memorable comment to Herschelle Gibbs, “You have just dropped the World Cup.” Waugh later denied saying it. However, it worked out that way, as Australia was proclaimed the winners despite botching the run-chase in the semi-finals.
Concerning this blunder in Birmingham, the Proteas needed only nine runs to win the match in the last over and managed to run themselves out. The game concluded in a tie, and Australia advanced to the tournament’s finals due to their higher ranking in the Super Six points table.
Also Read | History of India vs Pakistan in World Cup
2007: Basseterre and Gros Islet
The rivalry between Australia and South Africa continued at the 2007 World Cup. The Australians scored 377 in a league-stage encounter thanks to Matthew Hayden’s 101 off 68 balls and valuable contributions from Ricky Ponting (91) and Michael Clark (92). In response, South African batters started off well but couldn’t sustain the moment and were bowled out for 294 in 48 overs, falling short by 83 runs.
In the same edition’s semi-final, the same batting unit failed once more against Australian bowlers. This time, the Proteas were bundled out for 149, and Australia chased down the target with 7 wickets in hand.
2019: Manchester
When they met in the World Cup 2019 final league match, South Africa surprised everyone by upsetting table-toppers Australia. The South African batters hammered the Australian bowling attack and posted 325 runs on the board. Despite David Warner’s fighting century, Australia fell short of 10 runs and lost the game.
2023: Lucknow
The 7th encounter between Australia and South Africa came in the 2023 edition in Lucknow. After winning the toss, Australia elected to field first, but the decision went against them as South Africa posted 311 on the board thanks to Quinton de Kock’s century (109). While chasing the target, the Australian batting line-up tumbled in front of the South African bowling attack and was bowled out for 177 runs. South Africa registered their third victory over Australia by a margin of 134 runs.
Final Thoughts
Australia has dominated in terms of overall victories, as they have only lost two World Cup matches against South Africa, but South Africa has continuously pushed them to their limits with their talent and competitiveness. These two cricketing titans’ fights have exemplified the beauty and unpredictability of the game, making their meetings a must-see for cricket fans all over the world.
Fans can anticipate more thrilling confrontations as they continue to square off in the upcoming World Cup 2023 on October 12, which will serve as a tribute to the ODI format’s lasting popularity.
