AUS Vs SA: At Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, Australia lost its second ICC World Cup 2023 match by a score of 134 runs against South Africa.
This was the first time since 1992 that the five-time champion lost back-to-back games to begin a World Cup campaign.
Following their losses to South Africa in the final group stage encounter and England in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, Australia also suffered their first four World Cup defeats in a row.
AUS Vs SA: Australia suffer biggest defeat in ODI World Cup
The 134-run defeat is also Australia’s biggest defeat by runs in ODI World Cups.
South Africa’s total was the first 300-plus score at the venue which is sporting a relaid surface. In reply, the Australians were subject to terrific spells of fast bowling from Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada who skimmed through the top-order. They were eventually bowled out for 177.
Australia’s previous biggest defeat came in a 1983 World Cup match against India at Chelmsford when it was hammered by 118 runs. The only other instance of a 100-plus run defeat for Australia also came in the 1983 edition when it lost by 101 runs against West Indies in Leeds.
Australia’s biggest World Cup defeats (by runs)
- 134 runs – vs South Africa, Lucknow – 2023
- 118 runs vs India, Chelmsford – 1983
- 101 runs vs West Indies, Leeds – 1983
- 89 runs vs Pakistan, Nottingham – 1979
Australia, however, remains the most successful team in the tournament with five titles with 69 wins from 96 matches.
Australia, which had only lost 25 of its 96 World Cup games, suffered consecutive losses to South Africa and New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup, the country’s first World Cup hosting experience. In the end, Australia was unable to go to the semifinals that season.
It’s interesting to note that South Africa won their first two World Cup group stage matches for the first time since the 2011 tournament.
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