Watch: 'Nice to squeeze past and make final' says Australia's Mitchell Starc | ICC Cricket World Cup

Updated : Nov 17, 2023 08:48
|
Editorji News Desk

Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Starc seemed satisfied after his side beat South Africa by three wickets to reach their eighth World Cup final at Eden Gardens on November 16.

After restricting the South Africans to 212, Australia eked its way to 215-7 to win by three wickets with 16 balls to spare in a tense atmosphere inside Eden Gardens.

Australia will face tournament hosts India in Ahmedabad at the 1.3 lakh capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday's final.

India had earlier defeated New Zealand by 70 runs in the other semi-final clash at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on November 15.

What were the emotions like there, particularly towards the end of that chase? Obviously, it got a bit tight there.

"I think it was a tricky wicket throughout and I guess different phases of pressure for both teams throughout the game. So, yeah, I was pretty calm. I think Patty (Cummins) was pretty calm as well. And whilst it was pretty close, we had plenty of time. So, nice to squeeze past and make it to a final."

On a personal front with the ball, how pleasing is it, sort of gratifying to play like that at such a big game given the tournament you've had?

"To start the game like that with Joshie [Hazlewood] and I, power play wickets have probably been not our strong suit through the tournament so it was nice to have a power play of what two for 18 or something like that so the way Josh bowled throughout to finish two for 12 was incredible, and then Trav (Travis Head) with bat and ball. I think a lot of guys in the field as well, the way Davey (David Warner) stepped up in the field and led by example. You could probably name everyone at different circumstances through the day to really step up in a big game."

About the fast start with the bat from Australia's openers Travis Head and David Warner

"When you're willing to take the game on like that and sometimes you take a little bit of luck with you but the guys were fantastic in that opening partnership and then Trav carried through a bit longer and he was probably looking a bit ominous there not to go further, closer to 100 so, yeah certainly took some pressure off early with the way that the guys started and obviously, much needed with how we saw the back end of the game and giving ourselves a bit of extra time not to have to go so hard at the end."

You'll be playing against India in Ahmedabad in front of 130,000 crowd. You have seen that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have been having a great time opening. So how much are you looking forward to tackling the Indian openers with the new ball?

"That's what World Cups are about. You want to take on the best throughout and we certainly come up against a team that have obviously led from the front through the tournament and they're undefeated. So, we played them in the first game of the tournament, now we get to take them on in the last. So yeah, what a place to be at the end of a World Cup."

Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup: Australia skipper Pat Cummins 'can't wait' to face India in the final showdown

ICC Cricket World Cup

Recommended For You

editorji | Sports

Champions Trophy 2025: India to play their matches at neutral venue

editorji | Sports

Ravichandran Ashwin's fun time with support staff reminisced by BCCI | Watch

editorji | Sports

\'Mereko marwaoge\': Rohit Sharma's hilarious response to Pujara, Rahane 'retirement mistake' goes viral

editorji | Sports

Ravichandran Ashwin retires: Cricket world pays tribute to all-time great

editorji | Sports

India vs Australia: Travis Head confident he'll be 'fine' for Boxing Day Test