South Africa will face Australia in the third and final ODI of the series at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on September 30. The match will conclude the ODI series before both teams turn their attention to the upcoming Test matches.
South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches. Temba Bavuma and his team will look to complete a series sweep at home while also giving their bench strength an opportunity to feature.
Australia will look to end the series with a win. Their middle order has struggled in the first two matches after the top order provided strong starts. The visitors will need a better batting performance to challenge South Africa in Potchefstroom.
Pat Cummins is expected to return to Australia’s playing XI and strengthen the bowling attack. His return will also give the captain valuable match practice ahead of the Test series.
SA vs AUS Match Preview & Recent Form
South Africa produced a strong performance in the second ODI in Johannesburg, beating Australia by 32 runs. Temba Bavuma scored 103 off 116 balls, while David Miller smashed 142 off 93 deliveries to help South Africa post 365/9.
Lizaad Williams led the South African bowling attack with 3/54. Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, and Bjorn Fortuin took two wickets each. South Africa will again rely on Quinton de Kock and Matthew Breetzke to provide a strong start in Potchefstroom.
Australia began their chase well, reaching 130 in the first 17 overs. However, both openers were dismissed after their strong start, and the Australian middle order struggled as the visitors eventually fell 32 runs short. Mitchell Marsh scored 84 off 53 balls, while Travis Head made 84 off 76 deliveries.
Jack Edwards was a major positive for Australia with the ball, taking 5/67. Josh Hazlewood also claimed three wickets. Australia will need Alex Carey and Cameron Green to provide stability in the middle overs and make the most of the strong starts.
SA vs AUS Live Streaming, Live Telecast: Where To Watch 3rd ODI?
Cricket fans in South Africa can watch the third ODI live on SuperSport. Australian viewers can follow the match on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports, while fans in India can watch the match live on FanCode and Eurosport.
SA vs AUS Pitch Report: How Will Senwes Park Play?
Senwes Park in Potchefstroom offers a firm, flat surface that can provide a good contest between batters and bowlers. Fast bowlers can find some swing and seam movement with the new ball, while batters can play their shots once the movement decreases.
The pitch can slow down as the ODI progresses, bringing spinners into the game during the middle overs. The venue has an average first-innings score of 234 runs across 54 matches.
Captains winning the toss may consider bowling first, although the decision will depend on the pitch and weather conditions. Both teams will assess the conditions before deciding whether to bat or bowl first.
Senwes Park ODI Stats
Senwes Park ODI Stats
Total Matches: 48
Won Batting First: 20
Won Bowling First: 25
Average 1st Innings Score: 235
Average 2nd Innings Score: 189
Highest Team Total: 418/5 (South Africa vs Zimbabwe)
Lowest Team Total: 45 (Namibia vs Australia)
Highest Score Chased: 305/4 (Sri Lanka Women vs South Africa Women)
Lowest Score Defended: 158/9 (India Women vs South Africa Women)
Highest Individual Score: 119 (Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa vs West Indies)
Best Bowling Figures: 5/44 (Rusty Theron, South Africa vs Zimbabwe)
SA vs AUS Weather Forecast & Rain Threat at Senwes Park
The weather in Potchefstroom is expected to remain cool and cloudy during the third ODI on September 30. AccuWeather forecasts a 60% chance of precipitation and a 36% chance of thunderstorms. The forecast also indicates considerable cloud cover during the day.
The conditions could provide some assistance to fast bowlers, while rain could interrupt play. So both teams will need to keep the possibility of interruptions in mind.
If rain affects the match, the captains may need to consider the DLS method when making tactical decisions. The evening forecast is expected to be clearer, with a much lower 8% chance of precipitation.
SA vs AUS Team News & Injury Updates
South Africa have a settled lineup after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. With the series already won, they could rotate their pace attack while managing workloads ahead of the upcoming Test series.
Australia are expected to welcome back captain Pat Cummins for the third ODI. He was rested for the first two matches as part of his workload management ahead of the Test series. His return would strengthen the pace attack and give him valuable match practice.
Australia are also looking for greater consistency from their middle order. Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw will need to contribute after the batting unit struggled in the first two matches.
SA vs AUS Predicted Playing 11 Today
South Africa Predicted Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock, Adam Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Lizaad Williams, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj
Australia Predicted Playing XI:
Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Pat Cummins (c), Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
SA vs AUS Key Player Battles to Watch
David Miller vs Pat Cummins:
David Miller scored a brilliant 142 in the second ODI in Johannesburg. Pat Cummins could challenge the left-hander with short-pitched deliveries and yorkers, particularly during the death overs.
Travis Head vs Keshav Maharaj:
Travis Head scored 84 off 76 balls in the second ODI and will again look to provide Australia with a strong start. Keshav Maharaj will rely on his control and variations to put pressure on Head.
Temba Bavuma vs Jack Edwards:
Temba Bavuma scored 103 in the second ODI and played a key role in South Africa’s victory. Jack Edwards will look to use the new ball and overcast conditions to challenge the South African captain.
SA vs AUS Key Players to Watch
South Africa: David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Lizaad Williams
Australia: Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Jack Edwards
