Australia and South Africa will clash in the third ODI at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Sunday at 10 am IST. The series already in South Africa’s pocket, the Mitchell Marsh side will be keen to avoid a clean sweep, while the visitors will look to seal their dominance with another good show.
The hosts’ strategy to give rest to senior stars Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc has not worked as per their plan, as their young bowling attack has found it difficult to keep the Proteas in check. Australia was defeated by 98 runs in Cairns in the first ODI, then again suffered a massive defeat – this time by 84 runs in the second match.
South Africa, however, will be augmented by the return of captain Temba Bavuma, who played a key role with a gritty half-century in the opener. As both batters and bowlers turned on, the visitors are looking at a 3-0 series whitewash over the five-time world champions.
AUS Vs SA: Pitch Report
The track at Mackay has been batting-friendly in the first innings, permitting stroke-makers to play their shots with ease. In previous matches, South Africa were able to score 277 runs after early collapse, indicating that runs are available if batters put their heart into it.
Yet, pursuing hasn’t been straightforward. The second half of the game sees the pitch slowing down, which makes scoring runs complicated. Australian batsmen have struggled to adapt, with the ball seaming and the rate of scoring declining dramatically when there’s pressure involved.
AUS Vs SA: Toss Strategy
Winning the toss may prove crucial in this match. The best approach for captains will be to bat first and post runs on the board, making use of the better conditions. A score of 270–290 is expected to prove challenging for the chasing team.
Pacers are anticipated to find movement with the fresh ball and support during the innings, whereas spinners can become relevant as the surface deteriorates. Therefore, governing the game in the first innings seems to be the better option.
