The third ODI between Australia and South Africa at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay is scheduled for Sunday at 10 am IST. South Africa, already leading the series, will look to maintain their momentum, while Australia, under Mitchell Marsh’s captaincy, will aim to prevent a series sweep.
Australia’s decision to rest senior players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc hasn’t paid off as their inexperienced bowling lineup has been unable to contain the South African batsmen. Australia lost the first ODI in Cairns by 98 runs and the second by 84 runs.
South Africa will be boosted by the return of captain Temba Bavuma, who played a crucial role in the first match with a resilient half-century. The visitors will be aiming to complete a 3-0 series whitewash over the five-time world champions.
The pitch at Mackay has generally been favorable for batting in the first innings, allowing batsmen to play their shots freely. South Africa demonstrated this in a previous match by scoring 277 runs despite early wickets, showing that runs can be scored if batsmen are focused.
Chasing, however, has proven difficult. The pitch tends to slow down in the second innings, making scoring more challenging. The Australian batsmen have struggled to adjust, with the ball seaming and the scoring rate declining when under pressure.
The toss could be a decisive factor in this match. Captains are advised to bat first and score runs, taking advantage of the better conditions. A score between 270 and 290 is likely to be a challenging target for the team batting second.
Fast bowlers are likely to find movement with the new ball, while spinners might become more effective as the pitch deteriorates. Batting first and controlling the game in the initial innings seems to be the most advantageous approach.