NEW DELHI: As five-time champions Australia pulled off a scrappy three-wicket win over a defiant South Africa in the second semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday, opener Travis Head said that the team knew that the 213 chase was going to be a hard grind.
Man-of-the-match Travis, scored a solid 62 in Australia's rollicking start to the chase before a mid-innings wobble put them in a spot of bother. However, skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc held their nerves to take their side home in the 48th over.
With the win, Australia entered their 8th ODI World Cup final and will face India in the summit clash in Ahmadabad on Sunday.
"Hard to unpack all of that. Tense finish, amazing game. Didn't move from the seat for the last part. We knew how it was going to play, we had three or four days here. We haven't seen such spin, we knew we had to battle," said Travis in the post-match presentation.
"Nerve-wracking couple of hours but great effort and a great game," skipper Cummins said.
Asked about taking on India in the final with a massive crowd supporting the hosts, Cummins said, "The stadium is going to be packed, pretty one-sided but got to embrace it.
"The good thing is a few of us have been there for finals before. The 2015 World Cup was a career highlight, so to be out there in a final in India, can't wait," said Cummins.
(With inputs from agencies)
