South Africa vs. Australia Prediction: Australia has done well and are leading the series 2-0

South Africa will be facing off against Australia in the third game of the ODI Series being played at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Australia has done well and are leading the series 2-0. Who will win this game?

South Africa form

South Africa faces a formidable challenge as they seek their first victory in the T20I and ODI series. There's still optimism, with Bavuma's strong batting performance, accumulating 160 runs (largely thanks to his 114* in the first match).

However, Bavuma needs support from players like de Kock (56) and Klaasen (63). Markram, unfortunately, has been disappointing with just 22 runs in the series.

The primary concern for South Africa is their bowling, as they've struggled to contain the talented Australian batsmen. While there have been some bright spots, such as spinner Shamsi (4/61) and pacer Rabada (4/127), they can't do it all alone.

Ngidi's performance in the first match was lackluster, leading to his replacement by Nortje (who also struggled with 0/58). Coetzee's return could be crucial, given his relatively effective performance in the first match with 2/44. Nevertheless, the burden will largely fall on Rabada and Shamsi to step up their efforts.

South Africa Lineup

Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Australia form

Australia has been maintaining a somewhat fluid final XI to ensure player freshness, but one constant is Labuschagne's presence.

Labuschagne initially entered the first game as a concussion substitute (following Green's helmet hit from a bouncer), but he proved his worth with an unbeaten 80*. This was no one-off performance, as Labuschagne continued his excellent form with a remarkable 124 runs in the second match. The team's run-scoring was robust elsewhere, with notable contributions from Warner (106), Head (64), and Inglis (50).

Initial uncertainties about Sangha potentially replacing Zampa in the spinner's role have been dispelled. Zampa has already claimed 5/90 in the series, including an impressive 4/48 in the second match. Hazlewood and Abbott have also contributed significantly with 3 wickets each.

Australia Predicted Lineup

David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Expert betting tips

Throughout the years, this pitch hasn't witnessed an abundance of ODI matches, but it's become evident that the pace bowlers with the new ball tend to be most impactful during the first innings. Around the 25th over, the spinners come into play, yet it presents a significant opportunity for the team bowling first to gain the upper hand. Should Bavuma secure another century and receive solid half-centuries from de Kock and Klaasen, there's potential for a substantial total of approximately 350 runs. The bowling performance must improve, ensuring that the Australians don't receive straightforward deliveries. While Shamsi and Rabada have shown promise, it's essential for Nortje or Ngidi to start taking wickets. We expect the hosts to win this one.