The third ODI between Australia and South Africa at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay will commence on Sunday at 10 am IST. The series is already in South Africa’s favor, and Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, will aim to avoid a clean sweep, while the visitors seek to cement their dominance.
Australia’s strategy of resting senior players, including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, has backfired as their inexperienced bowling attack struggled against the Proteas. Australia was defeated by 98 runs in the first ODI in Cairns and then by 84 runs in the second match.
South Africa will be bolstered by the return of captain Temba Bavuma, whose half-century in the opening match was pivotal. With both batting and bowling units performing well, the visitors are aiming for a 3-0 series victory over the five-time world champions.
The pitch at Mackay has typically favored batsmen in the first innings, allowing them to play aggressively. In previous matches, South Africa managed to score 277 runs after losing early wickets, indicating that runs can be scored if the batsmen apply themselves.
However, chasing runs has been challenging. The pitch tends to slow down, making scoring difficult in the second innings. Australian batsmen have struggled to adapt, with the ball seaming and the scoring rate declining under pressure.
Winning the toss could be crucial in this match. The most effective approach for captains is to bat first and set a score, using the favorable conditions. A score between 270 and 290 is expected to be a tough target for the chasing team.
Fast bowlers are likely to find some movement with the new ball, and spinners may become more effective as the pitch deteriorates. Controlling the game in the first innings appears to be the most strategic decision.