Warner stands tall as biggest test awaits

As wickets tumbled around him, teammates went down with injury and the required run rate soared, David Warner produced a brilliant century in Australia's dramatic World Cup loss to South Africa.

And his skipper and opening partner Aaron Finch said the "big-game player" is primed for their semi-final clash with England.

Warner posted 122 from 117 balls at Old Trafford on Saturday, his 17th one-day international hundred in his 115th ODI for his country. Only Ricky Ponting (29) and Mark Waugh (18) have more ODI centuries for Australia.

The Manchester masterclass was Warner's 12th century in his last 48 ODIs, which was interrupted by his 12-month suspension for his involvement in last year's incident in Cape Town.

His valiant knock gave the reigning world champions a chance of chasing down the Proteas' imposing 6-325 despite meagre contributions from the rest of the top order, with Finch admitting Warner could hardly have done much more.

"He played magnificent today," said Finch. "I think the way that that he structured his innings was really important.

"It's never easy when you are losing wickets at the other end to map out your innings and navigate your way through some really difficult periods.

"But he showed his absolute class today and it was an unbelievable knock to get 122.

"That was as good an innings as he could have played."

Australia had slumped to 4-119 in the 25th over but Aaron Finch's side was effectively five down after No.3 Usman Khawaja left the field with a hamstring injury. Khawaja bravely returned in the closing stages but looks unlikely to play any part in the rest of the tournament.

It could have been a different story had Warner been run out from the third ball of the pursuit still on zero, but Proteas pace ace Kagiso Rabada threw to the wrong end and the opener survived.

Warner put that mix-up and the steady flow of wickets aside, hitting 12 fours and two sixes to bring up his century from exactly 100 balls, celebrating in trademark fashion with a giant leap, kiss of his helmet and nod to his balcony. 

"It would have been nice for him to have some partners at the top of the order," said Finch. "Myself, (Marcus) Stoinis, Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) – it would have been nice for us to go deeper and make his job easier.

"He's a big game player, he loves the big stage, so it is an exciting time."

His dismissal in the 40th over, caught at mid-on from the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius with Australia still requiring 99 runs to win, was the hammer blow to the run chase side despite the best efforts of a gallant Alex Carey, who finished with a career-best 85.

The loss means Australia now face England at Edgbaston on Thursday, with the winner to play in the World Cup final next Sunday, July 14.

While it's not the scenario Australia would have envisioned entering Saturday's clash at Old Trafford, the five-time World Cup winners will like their chances with the form Warner is in.

During his innings, Warner zoomed past the 600-run mark for the tournament, becoming just the second Australian behind Matthew Hayden to reach the milestone in World Cups.

Hayden holds the record for most runs by an Australian at a World Cup with 659 in 11 innings in the 2007 campaign, which Australia won to complete a hat-trick of titles.

Warner has 638 runs in nine knocks and also joins Hayden (2007) and Mark Waugh (1996) as the only Australians to score three centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia lost to South Africa by 10 runs

July 9: Semi-Final 1, India v New Zealand, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Australia v England, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE