RSA vs AUS Match Preview
It was expected that the South Africans would put up a much stronger effort in the one-day competition after losing the T20I series badly. But they have once again started the series on a losing note. One of the positives to have come out of this match was the batting of the skipper Temba Bavuma. He carried the bat for a good innings scoring 114 not out from 142 balls. But he did not get too much support apart from Marco Jansen who scored 32 from 40 balls. In the end, South Africans were bowled out for a below-par total of 222 runs.
Although the Australians were chasing a modest total in the first contest, the wicket was a bit treacherous. Australians were in a difficult position after they had lost 7 wickets with around 100 runs still required. South African bowlers were off to a flyer as they dismantled the Aussie top order with fiery opening spells. Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada were right on the money. But with the wicket growing easy to bat on gradually, Labuschagne and Ashton Agar took the Aussies to the target without any further drama.
Marnus Labuschagne was not included in the Aussie World Cup squad and he was also not in the playing eleven for the first game. But he responded to this treatment brilliantly. He was playing the role of the concussion substitute beautifully for the injured Cameron Green. Green was hit by a Rabada bouncer in the 6th over. Labuschagne came into bat with the Aussies being in a precarious situation with 72 for 5. But he got together with Ashton Agar and these two built a 112-run partnership for the 8th wicket from 145 deliveries to guide the Australian outfit to a win.
This 8th-wicket partnership is a record for Bloemfontein. Marnus Labuschagne is almost certainly in the squad for the upcoming game. Travis Head also appeared to be in good nick scoring 33 runs from 28 balls before he was dismissed by the quick Ngidi. Head has been the go-to player for Australia in the one-day format. He has collected a haul of 362 runs from his last 7 games with an average of 60.33 and a strike rate of 115. The Australian captain Mitchell Marsh has also collected 291 runs from his last 6 games with a strike rate of 122.
Weather Report
The weather during the game in Bloemfontein is likely to be hot, sunny, and clear during this match.
Pitch Report
The surface on offer at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein offers a lot of pace and bounce for the speedsters, especially in the earlier portion of the game. All batters will need to be careful while negotiating the quicks in the initial overs. But both these teams have top-quality fast bowlers in their ranks. With the game progressing the batting will gradually become easier. If the batsman can be a bit patient, he can score many runs on this track.
Notable stats
Temba Bavuma has had an incredible average with the bat in recent matches.
Temba Bavuma has scored 534 runs in his last 7 games with an average of 106.8.
Sisanda Magala has a great bowling strike rate in his last 4 games for South Africa.
Sisanda Magala has picked up 12 victims from his last 4 matches with a strike rate of 17.5.
Team News
There are no injury worries reported so far in the series. Although the team management might consider making a few changes to the team that played the first one-day international, there are unlikely to be any major alterations to either side.
RSA vs AUS Probable 11
RSA Playing 11
- 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
AUS Playing 11
- David Warner
- Travis Head
- Mitchell Marsh (C)
- Cameron Green
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Alex Carey (Wk)
- Marcus Stoinis
- Sean Abbott
- Ashton Agar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Adam Zampa
Dream11 Prediction
Australians have now recorded 4 victories in a row on the South African tour. They are all set to keep their winning momentum going in this match as well. Their batting order was pushed to the limit in their last game though. But even without the presence of their key players in the team, they are a well-balanced side. South Africans do have a potent bowling attack and they are more than likely to deliver once again. It is their batting that has looked to be suspect in this series. There are many under-performers in that line-up. We expect the Aussies to continue their winning ways in this game as well.
Top Picks
Temba Bavuma: Temba Bavuma has scored 534 runs from his last 7 matches with an average of 106.8 and an excellent strike rate of 105.11.
Sisanda Magala: Magala has picked up 12 victims in his last 4 games for South Africa with a strike rate of 17.5
Travis Head: Travis Head has scored 362 runs from his last 7 games with a striker rate of 115.28 and an average of 60.33.
Adam Zampa: Zampa has picked up 23 scalps from his last 10 games with a strike rate of 21.52.
RSA vs AUS Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: Q de Kock , H Klaasen
Batters: D Warner, M Marsh, T Bavuma, M Labuschagne
All-rounders: M Stoinis (C), A Markram, C Green
Bowlers: J Hazlewood (VC), K Rabada
