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Temba Bavuma Bags 'Unwanted World Cup Record' In Kolkata Semifinal 

image-lp1005y8Temba Bavuma fell for a duck in Kolkata (Twitter)

Temba Bavuma got etched in the record books for the most unwanted reason as the South African skipper got dismissed for a duck at the start of the marquee ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal against Australia on Thursday (November 16). 

Playing at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the stage was set for Proteas' inspirational skipper to make amends for earlier tournament struggles and produce a substantial knock in the must-win tussle. However, he proved to be Aussie quick Mitchell Starc's first victim after edging a quality outswinger from the left-arm pacer for a duck next to his name.

As he walked off the prestigious turf, Bavuma became the fourth captain in the history of the game to be dismissed without a score in a men's World Cup semifinal. The Proteas skipper joined three other popular gents in a list none of them would've desired to feature in.

Bavuma Fetches Unwanted Record After Semifinal Duck 

Three other captains have been dismissed without opening their account in the World Cup semifinals in the tournament's 48-year-long history. Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin was the first to bag the embarrassing feat when was dismissed for a duck during the 1996 semifinal in Kolkata against Sri Lanka. 

Three years later in Manchester, it was the turn of former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje to achieve the most undesired landmark during the semifinal against eventual champions Australia. 

The duo of Azharuddin and Cronje were joined 20 years later by ex Aussie opener Aaron Finch, who was the captain during the 2019 campaign for the five-time champions but was dismissed for a duck in the semifinal against England. 

Bavuma is the fourth captain in the men's World Cup history to be out without troubling the scorers in a semifinal and also the second South African skipper in the game's history to fetch the unwanted record.