Australia started this World Cup with losses to India and South Africa, and after rattling off seven straight wins, have the chance to avenge one in the hopes of making the final.

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2:25AM: SPIN BARRAGE ENDS? PLEASE YES.

After what felt like an age of spin, we finally have some pace into the attack, it’s Coertzee for the bowling side.

Josh Inglis played the spinners well after his arrival, which may have prompted the change from Bavuma.

He and Smith have looked slightly more expansive to the quick, which could play into South Africa’s hands too.

Maharaj does get his ninth over, but the Aussies see that out without harm.

Australia are 5/165 after 31 overs, needing 48 off 114 balls.

2:00AM: JUSTICE FOR SHAMSI, MARNUS’ LUCK RUNS OUT

That was Alex Carey-like from Marnus, trying the reverse in Indian conditions and getting done LBW.

This time the umpire says out, Labuschagne sends it upstairs and it’s barely clipping leg stump.

Glenn Maxwell will come to the crease with 80 still needed and there’s a huge appeal first ball.

This is getting into really dangerous territory.

Maharaj and Shamsi are having it all there way here, who is going to step up now?

The Aussies are probably counting every over those two have left, desperate to see a different look.

And now, there’s a shout for caught behind off Maxwell who tries the reverse slog, the keeper was certain, the umpire says no and replay agrees.

The pressure is right on!

And now Maxwell swipes across the line and is knocked over, what the hell is happening here??????

5 wickets in hand, 76 to get and out comes Josh Inglis.

1:40AM: MOMENTUM IS SHIFTING, CAN SA PRESS ON GAS?

There’s just a lot happening here, the spinners for South Africa are well on top right now.

Marnus was trapped on the crease by Shamsi who was certain he was gone, the umpire said, no, that was reviewed and it was an umpire’s call by a hair.

As the runs dry up, Steve Smith is put down by de Kock behind the stumps off Shamsi.

You’d feel pretty comfortable if Bavuma just let these two bowl out their overs here, because every ball looks like it’s going to get a wicket at this rate.

Fortunately for the Aussies, its their two best players of spin in Smith and Labuschagne out there.

Looking at that glass half-empty, that could spell doom if there’s another wicket soon.

Australia are 3/119 after 19 overs.

1:20AM: HEAD’S LIVES RUN OUT

South Africa had their chance (albeit a very tough one) to dismiss Travis Head, now he looks set to make them pay.

The opener has raced past the fifty mark, and has knocked a big block out of this chase already.

Smith and Head are playing their strokes, so the fielders will always be in the game as the Aussies pass the 100 mark in 13 overs.

And Head is dropped again!

Klaasen at first slip off Shamsi starts backing away and can’t secure the edge from Head which races to the boundary.

This game could look plenty different if they had held onto those.

This is one you can’t look away from.

AND AGAIN.

Maharaj comes on first ball and knocks over Travis Head, brings him forward sneaks it between the gate and he is gone for 62.

Australia are 3/109 after 15 overs.

1:00AM: NOT. SO. FAST.

Here comes South Africa, first it was Warner and now Mitch Marsh is headed back to the sheds.

Rabada bowls back of a length, Marsh tries to smash it through cover off the back foot and vad der Dussen takes a screamer at cover.

What started a little nervy, then looked super comfortable now looks really nervy.

How will Travis Head play this? We know Smith will be methodical and try to be there at the end.

This could go right down to the wire, especially with Markram getting a bit out of the pitch, maybe it’s the game of the part-timers.

As per the question above, as they said in Interstellar, Travis Head will not go gently into that good night.

If he’s out there for a while, the Aussies could be very close to victory.

And now there’s a shout to dismiss Steve Smith, who upon replay was struck on the hip before the ball reached the hands of the keeper.

After the first powerplay, the Aussies are 2/74.

12:45AM: WARNER AND HEAD MAKE ROARING START, SA BREAK THROUGH

The nerves look to be settled at least for Warner and Head, who have both played some lovely strokes, putting the bowlers on the back foot and wondering what length to bowl.

Matthew Hayden said Travis Head has a “thirst” for boundaries and it looks like he’s a bit parched.

It probably does not look as technical as some would like but when he hits them there is vemon behind it.

Warner has whacked three sixes already, two off Rabada and one off Jansen, picking them off his pads with aplomb.

Discussions are now happening between the leaders of South Africa, what do they do now?

They need wickets to win this game, not dots it seems.

By the fifth over the Aussies are 0/40, South Africa were 1/8.

And Warner continues to push on and Matty Hayden I dare say is FIRED UP in the commentary box, probably proud watching a left-handed for Australian at the World Cup smash sixes.

After six overs Australia are 0/60.

All of a sudden, it’s another part-timer who ends the partnership.

Markram comes on, Warner backs away and all of a sudden he is castled.

That lets the air out of the balloon a bit.

12:25AM: NERVY CHASE GETS UNDERWAY

The big left-armer Marco Jansen kicks off proceedings to Travis Head and already you can tell the opener will not die wondering, going hard at a few outside off.

Head played and missed at a couple, but launched into one then went in the air to cover and bounced once before hitting the rope.

It’ll be the superstar Rabada from the otner end who looks on song, hitting that hard length as per usual.

I’m sure most Aussie cricket fans will remember Rabada running through Australia down in Hobart a few years ago.

Straight away he draws a false stroke from Head, who gets lucky as the ball rolls to third man for a boundary.

After two overs the Aussies are 0/10.

INNINGS BREAK: AUSTRALIA REQUIRES 213 TO WIN

Scintillating new ball bowling from the quicks and a mid-innings circuit-breaker from Travis Head cut a stumbling South Africa back to size as Australia placed one foot in the World Cup final at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

A rearguard David Miller century gave the Proteas a glimmer of hope, but the Aussies had the clear upper hand after bowling out South Africa for 212 with two balls unused.

The ghosts of semi-finals past reared their heads in Kolkata, as the Proteas crumbled to 4-24 after captain Temba Bavuma chose to bat first having won the toss.

Australian captain Pat Cummins said he would have done the same if the coin had landed his way but losing the toss proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Seeking to make its first World Cup final after four failed semi-final attempts, South Africa’s top-order aggression evaporated in the face of sustained excellence from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who were assisted by total cloud coverage.

Bavuma was cleared to play despite his hamstring complaint but his leg muscles were good only to walk back to the pavilion after he meekly edged Starc to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, departing for a duck in the first over.

It set the tone for a sensational hour of seam bowling from Starc and Hazlewood, dramatically redressing Australia’s power play issues with the ball during the tournament.

Hazlewood’s relentless accuracy frustrated Quinton de Kock (three off 14 balls) into a miscued loft that was well taken by Cummins who drifted in from mid-on.

It took the Proteas 52 balls to post their first boundary as they crept to 2-18 from 10 overs.

With Starc and Hazlewood on song, Cummins kept the pair on longer than usual, a move that paid off when Aiden Markram (10) tugged Starc straight ton David Warner at point, before Rassie van der Dussen (six off 31) edged Hazlewood to Steve Smith at second slip.

South had crawled to 4-44 through 14 overs when almost imperceptibly light rain forced the teams off for around 45 minutes.

On respumption, Miller and Heinrich Klaasen provided resistance, taking to Cummins and Adam Zampa.

The middle-order pair grafted towards a century stand before the part-time off-spin of Head shot one through the defences of Klaasen on 47 before trapping Marco Jansen first ball on a tiring wicket. Gerald Coetzee survived the hat-trick ball and scrapped to 19 before departing to a supposed edge from a Cummins bouncer that ultimately proved to have missed the bat.

Starc picked up Keshav Maharaj to get his third scalp before Miller teed off, smacking Cummins for a six over deep midwicket to bring up his ton before departing to a juggling catch from Head in the deep later in the 48th over.

Kagiso Rabad holed out in the final over for Cummins’ third wicket.

Australia axed Marcus Stoinis, allowing Marnus Labuschagne to retain his spot in the XI. Labuschagne repaid the faith with desperate fielding early in the innings, as he and Warner set the tone for an Aussie outfit hunting a sixth 50-over World Cup crown.

The Proteas left out Lungi Ngidi, picking Tabraiz Shamsi as a second spinner in what they fairly assumed would be helpful conditions.

11:25PM: CUMMINS BREAKS THE PARTNERSHIP, MILLER PUSHES ON

It’s not THE wicket they wanted, but this partnership is ending with a vintage Pat Cummins bouncer.

Coetzee gets tucked in and tickles one fine to Josh Inglis who takes the easiest of chances.

However, replay shows it hit the shirt and not glove but no review was taken.

Maharaj will come to the crease and you’d think the goal now is just to give David Miller as much of the strike as possible.

Miller has taken a real likening to Zampa, who hasn’t been able to get as much out of the wicket compared to the likes of Head and Maxwell.

As we get to the closing overs of this innings, 200 at worst will be the goal for South Africa, with the hopes they can even get to 230.

Hard to know with a wicket like this and the likes of Rabada waiting, whether or not that will be enough.

And Miller won’t give up the fight, looking supreme, particularly on his leg side and picking boundaries.

After 46 overs South Africa are 7/190.

11:00PM: DANGER MAN STARTS TO ROLL

The run rate won’t overwhelm anyone, but it might be time to start getting concerned about the innings David Miller is putting together.

The left-hander has been meticulous, knocking the ball round consistently then swinging at almost pre-meditated times.

Miller is into the 60s, batting alongside Coetzee who is playing well for a no. 8, showing some class including a spectacular drive through cover off Mitch Starc.

Glenn Maxwell’s spell is now done and what a spell it has been, not the wickets he would want but he has held down an end superbly.

Maxwell finishes with figures of 0/36 off his 10 overs.

40 overs down South Africa are 6/156.

10:40PM: HEAD FLIPS GAME ON ITS, YOU GET IT

Well, well, well, just when it was turning towards South Africa Travis Head has turned it all around in two balls.

An inspired move from Cummins, Head was hit for two fours to start the over, then bowled Klaasen and gets Marco Jansen first ball smashing him on the pads right in front of middle.

There’s not hat-trick however for the part-timer.

Klaasen had joined Miller in getting dangerous, now all eyes turn back to David Miller to turn this innings into one his side can defend.

Zampa has struggled, but its the two part-time spinners who are leading the way for Australia, there’s some turn in this wicket.

David Miller has in the meantime reached his fifty, a much-needed stand.

South Africa are 6/129 after 34 overs.

10:10PM: 50 PARTNERSHIP COMES, DANGER SIGNS?

Now, holistically, Australia are still well on top, but that threat of rain today and tomorrow just gives you the slightest bit of worry.

On the plus side, Australia have been able to sneak in some tight overs from Glenn Maxwell, as this partnership between Klaasen and Miller hits the half-century.

There’s been a slight lull in the game since the break, with the sting taken out of the Aussie onslaught to a degree but that run rate is still looking very worrying for South Africa, hitting the halfway mark with only 79 on the board.

South Africa do not bat deep, they have Jansen at seven who is handy but is more of a late-innings hitter, perhaps they are biding their time to settle then go hard towards the end.

We wait and see.

South Africa are 4/81 after 26 overs.

9:50PM: MILLER LEADS THE RESCUE MISSION

A partnership is building between these two, with David Miller showing his class at the crease, South Africa are still well behind in the game, but it hasn’t been the start Australia were looking for after the break.

Miller dispatched Zampa again over the fence, then has played some nice shots off Cummins, who hasn’t been able to match his counterparts.

Zampa’s spell is short, with Glenn Maxwell coming on for a bowl, this could get interesting, will they look to take him on?

South Africa are 4/68 after 21 overs.

9:35PM: ZAMPA TIME, GOOD CALL OR BAD CALL?

Straight out of the break, Pat Cummins turns to his star spinner Adam Zampa.

You almost wonder whether they wanted to keep going with Mitch Starc and put the foot to the throat.

We know Zampa however has been able to both get wickets and keep the runs at a low rate.

Straight away he’s been on the money, where earlier in the tournament he was taking a few overs to get in the groove.

Cummins has however, decided to get Josh Hazlewood on after the restart, possibly to save Starc and himself for closer to an innings end if there is one?

I’m sure Cummins like all Aussie cricket fans is hoping this does not get near the 50-over mark, so as to avoid any issue with some rain.

And David Miller says time to get going, whacking Zampa for 6 over mid-on.

South Africa have hit the half-century mark, the second-slowest fifty of the tournament so far.

South Africa are 4/55 after 17 overs.

9:15PM: RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY ETC, ETC

You know the drizzle you walk to work from the train station in, then when you get into work you look dry, that’s what’s happening in Kolkata from all reports.

Which a) is promising and b) really annoying, with the hot start the Aussies have made.

The bright side of all of this, we can reflect on this exciting start from Australia, with Hazlewood and Starc bowling to almost their Test level, combined with some exceptional fielding.

The covers look to be coming off with South African 4/44 off 14 overs.

Play will restart at 9:25pm AEDT.

8:50PM: AND HERE COMES THE FUN-STEALER

Well, South Africa hit a couple of boundaries and Mother Nature says no that’s enough here comes the rain.

The covers are on in Kolkata, however only a small shower is expected.

However the rain has not been enough to quiten a ferocious crowd, who are almost epitomising the fielding we have seen from Australia to start this game.

Could this put an end to the roll the Aussies were on and given the reeling batting side the break they needed?

8:35PM: SOUTH AFRICA’S WORLD CUP SEMI MISERY ROLLS

AND AGAIN! Hazlewood is relentless.

Pat Cummins took a chance keeping his spearheads on and it has paid off enormously.

Rassie van der Dussen has to go, caught at second slip by Steve Smith who half caught it and half-wedged it between his legs, but they all count.

Can’t quite say South Africa are known for their exploits in semi-finals in a positive way, but boy oh boy this is another level.

You often see sides losing wickets consistently while still keeping the runs flowing, but this almost feels like an Ashes game where it’s all in favour of the bowling side.

Can they find an answer or will this be wrapped up quickly?

The skipper Pat Cummins will come into the attack with South Africa already four down with a mere 34 runs on the board.

8:20PM: KOLKATA PRESSURE COOKER

It took 52 balls, but we have a boundary in this game thanks to Markram, but these first 10 overs have been a bowling and fielding clinic by Australia.

Fielding was something of a worry to start this tournament, but the Aussies have really ramped it up as they started to compile wins.

This has been vintage Hazlewood and Starc, tightening the screws on their opponents, with the occasional Starc loosener but it’s par for the course.

The moisture in the surface has given the Aussies plenty more bounce compared to the last game at Kolkata.

There’s been some movement off the seam too, particularly for Hazlewood.

After 10 overs, South Africa have made only 18 runs!!

And now Markram goes, what is happening here?!?!?!

8:00PM: GOOD TOSS TO LOSE????

Well with the possibility of rain you probably wanted to bat, however, this deck looks to have a bit of juice in it early on.

Could be the earliest of assumptions once these balls soften a little but alas!

Right now the Aussies are operating under total cloud coverage.

Josh Hazlewood has been able to get some serious bounce off the wicket, flying through to Inglis at head-height on multiple occasions.

The big Hoff has been operating at that 7m length consistently, a vintage touch.

The covers being on for so long due to the potential rain may have just kept a ton of moisture in this pitch.

It’s been tough sledding for South Africa early, managing just six runs off the first four overs, a mixture of tight bowling and some great fielding early on, particularly from David Warner and Glenn Maxwell on the off-side.

And the danger man is gone !!!!!

The consistency has gotten to Quinton de Kock, who went for one on a good length from Hazlewood, and trying to get on the front foot hits one straight into the air.

Pat Cummins settles under it at mid-on and takes a great catch.

What a start this is indeed.

7:40PM: THE WORLD CUP MASTER STRIKES EARLY

Mitch Starc has not had the tournament he would have liked, but he gets a dream start in the semi-final, knocking over the South African skipper with the sixth ball of the game.

A vintage Starc delivery drifts across the right-hander, thick edge and safely into the hands of Josh Inglis.

What a start to this one!

Bavuma battled hamstring concerns all week, at least for batting purposes that won’t be an issue now.

van der Dussen comes to the crease, who has played exceptionally across the tournament.

No secret of course, but Quinton de Kock is the wicket all Aussie cricket fans will be chasing early on.

The left-hander has been sensational at this tournament, whacking four centuries across the competition, including a 109 against Australia in Lucknow.

7:15PM: MARNUS WINS SELECTION BATTLE IN HUGE SEMI-FINAL CALL

Marnus Labuschagne has won the selection battle over Marcus Stoinis for the final spot in Australia’s XI for the World Cup semi-final.

Australia has chosen to go for extra batting depth over an additional all-rounder.

It is overcast but the rain has stayed away for now.

Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell return at the expense of Stoinis and Sean Abbott.

South Africa will bat first after winning the toss, with weather coming into some consideration of Temba Bavuma’s decision.

South Africa has made one change, dropping Lungi Ngidi for Tabraiz Shamsi.

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins said he would have batted if he had won the toss.

Labuschagne is an incredible story. Missed out on the 18-man squad and about to play his 18th straight ODI since that squad was named.

Unfortunately for Stoinis he just hasn’t contributed consistently enough with bat or ball to demand a spot in the XI. He has left himself vulnerable and it has cost him in the end.

For all the talk of splitting formats, Australia’s XI for the World Cup semi-final features eight of those who played the fifth Test at The Oval in late July.

Battle on two fronts: Australia’s plan for SA, rain revealed

A developing cyclone in the Bay of Bengal has threatened to derail Australia’s tilt for a sixth World Cup crown, with rain forecast at stages on both Thursday, the day of the match, and the reserve day on Friday.

Should tonight’s World Cup semi-final match be washed out, South Africa would advance as the higher-ranked side from the league phase – with the winner to take on India, after their demolition of New Zealand last night.

But captain Pat Cummins said Australia would not premeditate the weather, playing the scenario as it comes.

“One website tells you something, and another website tells you the opposite. It’s something you think about,” Cummins said.

“We’ll turn up, expect to play a 50-over match, and if that shifts on us well (we’ll deal with it).”

Meanwhile, Cummins says his players will draw on experience from previous title wins in the clash with South Africa, spurred on by Glenn Maxwell’s heroics having given them “an extra leg”.

Five-time winners Australia went down to the Proteas in the league stage by 134 runs before they won seven straight matches to make the semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.

Australia, who lost an ODI series in South Africa in September, have beaten their rivals twice in World Cup semi-finals.

“You start from scratch every time you play,” Cummins said.

“They’re a team we’ve played quite a lot and know quite well.

“I think what helps us is we’ve got a lot of guys that have been in this situation before that have won the one-day World Cup, T20 World Cup, various other tournaments in big moments.

“So, I think that really helps. You can draw on that in the middle of the contest.”

Originally published as Australia v South Africa Cricket World Cup semi-final: Follow all the action LIVE from Kolkata