Watch: Steve Smith played an ugly swipe across the line high into the air for Quinton de Kock to take a stunning diving catch in a potential game-changing moment for South Africa.
Steve Smith brought Australia close to a goal after an early defeat in the World Cup semi-final second leg with a chase of 213 points. South Africa’s spinners destroyed the Australian batting line-up and won the semi-final with 137 for 5 in 24 overs.
However, Smith calmly began to get the points he needed alongside Josh Inglis, and the two formed a partnership of 37 points on 59 pitches. Run rate was not a problem for Australia, so Smith dominated the team, scoring 30 runs out of 62 his balls.
However, Gerald Coetzee’s third attack spelled disaster for Smith. In a moment of madness, he tried to slam it into the leg side of the pacer, but hit his ball with a strong top edge that sent the ball flying into the air.
Quinton de Kock immediately claimed the ball and chased it spinning in the night sky. De Kock, who barely had to move from his position behind the stumps, dove forward as the ball fell to the ground and caught it with both gloves before it landed on the turf.
South Africa’s players celebrated in what appeared to be a key moment of the match. Australia still needed 39 runs when Smith was sent off and Mitchell Starc was the new batsman on the wicket.
Inglis was then bowled out again by Coetzee’s straight yorker in the sixth over, posing an even greater danger for Australia, who still needed 20 runs at this point.
Watch: Steve Smith plays ugly pull to leave Australia in precarious position
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