Match: South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI
Date: 5 October, Wednesday
Time: 7:30pm SGT/5pm IST/12:30 pm BST
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
TV Channel: In Singapore, there is no live coverage of the 3r ODI between South Africa and Australia
Overview
South Africa host Australia in the One Day International of the five-match series in Durban on 5 October.
Faf du Plessis-led team decimated the visitors in the first two ODIs and are looking good to seal the series at the Kingsmead on Wednesday.
South Africa's top-order has been in fine form despite the absence of AB de Villiers, who has been ruled out for two months due with an elbow injury. Wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock did no harm to his growing reputation as a lethal opener when he smashed 178 runs in chase of 295 in the first ODI.
The 23-year-old's opening partner Rilee Rossouw also looked fluid in his 45-ball 63 as the hosts gunned the target in just 36.2 overs at Centurion. The Proteas batsmen continued with their momentum in Wanderers, smashing 361 runs after being asked to bat first in the second ODI.
Skipper Du Plessis led the way with a century as Rossow and JP Duminy hit quick-fire half-centuries. Australia, chasing a daunting target, were out of the race early on as their top-order sans David Warner, who struck a fifty, contributed to only 43 runs. A 142-run defeat meant the Steve Smith-led side would be in a do-or-die situation at Kingsmead.
While South Africa have a power-packed unit despite not having De Villiers and Hashim Amla, Australia have been missing their frontline bowlers in Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. The inexperience in their bowling attack was exploited well by the hosts in both the ODIs.
Australia have used six different pacers over the first two matches and none of them have been able to contain the rampaging South Africa batsmen. Spinners Adam Zampa and Travis Head have been equally expensive in their two outings.
On the other hand, South African bowling unit has looked consistent with experienced campaigners Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir leading the attack. Also, 20-year-old pacer Andile Phehlukwayo showed the way for his Australian counterparts by picking up six wickets from the first two ODIs.
However, Australian veteran George Bailey feels the difference is not in the bowling lineup of the two teams but with the way the batsmen have approached their game. The 34-year-old has stressed on the need to convert starts into big ones ahead of Wednesday's crucial tie.
"All the batters are hitting the ball pretty well, it's just that nobody's getting a hundred and the South Africans have had a guy score a hundred in each of those games," Bailey was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"As much as the focus could be on our young bowling attack, I think it's the batters who have got to step up."
Australia would want to replace Aaron Finch with promising youngster Usman Khawaja at the top. However, skipper Steve Smith has to considerably improve after coming up with paltry numbers of 8 and 14 in the two games to release the pressure on the relatively inexperienced middle-order.
While the Proteas would be eyeing a series-clinching win in Durban, Smith and Co. would want to start afresh and take the fight till the final ODI.
TV Schedule
Australia: Fox Sports 3
South Africa: Super Sport Two
India: Ten 2
UK: Sky Sports
US: Willow TV
Team news
South Africa
Possible XI: Faf Du Plessis (c), Rilee Rossouw, Quinton de Kock (wk), Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo
Australia
Possible XI: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Matthew Wade (wk), Adam Zampa, John Hastings, Daniel Worrall, Scott Boland
