ODI World Cup 2023: Australia vs South Africa Weather Report and Pitch Report

The five-time world champions, Australia faced an unusual setback in their World Cup 2023 journey  as they suffered an opening loss for the first time since 1996. On October 8, India outperformed them in every aspect of the game. In contrast, South Africa marked a remarkable start to their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with a substantial victory over Sri Lanka. The Proteas set a new record by achieving the highest number of centuries (3) in a single ODI match, with Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Rassie van der Dussen each reaching triple digits.

In their 108 One Day Internationals (ODIs), cricket archrivals South Africa and Australia have had closely contested battles, with South Africa winning 54, Australia 50, and 3 ending in ties. The latest encounter on September 17 saw South Africa emerging victorious by 122 runs at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, with Marco Jansen earning the Player of the Match title. In World Cups, the teams have clashed six times, with Australia winning thrice. The World Cup 1999 semi-final remains iconic, marked by a historic tie and the unforgettable image of Allan Donald's run-out with one run needed for South Africa to win.

Lucknow's Ekana Stadium is scheduled to be the venue for the Australia vs South Africa match, with the sky expected to be overcast. Thankfully, the weather forecast indicates minimal chances of rain, ensuring a favorable day for cricket enthusiasts. The humidity is anticipated to hover around 43%, introducing a hint of moisture to the atmosphere. Additionally, a gentle breeze of 10 kilometers per hour is forecasted.

ODI World Cup 2023: Australia vs South Africa Pitch Report

In the brief history of one-day cricket matches at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, spinners have been influential in determining outcomes, enjoying a slight advantage. Furthermore, the pitch tends to favor teams chasing targets, making run chases more achievable. With an average first-innings score of 219 and a second-innings average of 212 in ODIs at this venue, batters can anticipate setting or pursuing targets in a game where the success factor heavily relies on the performance of spinners.

But it is also to be kept in mind that the Indian Premier League matches which were played at the venue showed that run-making was difficult on the pitch. But after the tournament, the pitches are relayed so it will be fascinating to see how it plays.