The fierce cricketing rivalry between Australia and South Africa continues as the two titans of our sport square off in the 3rd and final ODI of the series on August 24th, 2025, at 4:30 AM (UTC) at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. South Africa is already 2-0 up and has the series; now it is Australia's opportunity to save some pride and avoid a 3-0 whitewash. Both Australia and South Africa are experimenting slightly for the 2027 ODI World Cup; therefore, while this clash of titans is arguably a dead rubber in the context of this series, we can guarantee an exciting match ahead.
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Match Overview
- Fixture: Australia vs. South Africa, 3rd ODI (SA leads 2-0)
- Date & Time: August 24, 2025, 04:30 AM (UTC)
- Venue: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, Australia
- Format: One Day International (ODI)
- Win Probability: Australia 64%, South Africa 36%
Recent History
Australia
Lost both ODIs convincingly (by 98 runs and 84 runs);
Lost 7 of their last 8 ODIs.
Struggling with a top-order collapse with at least two partnerships needed;
Volatile players like Labuschagne and Carey are consistently inconsistent.
South Africa
Dominated both matches with strength in their batting and their bowling;
Won their 5th consecutive ODI series against Australia since 2016.
Has a great middle order with Breetzke and Stubbs consistently hitting runs.
Has bowling led by Maharaj (5/33 in the 1st ODI) and Ngidi (5/42 in the 1st ODI).
Head-to-Head Record in ODI
Number of Matches: 112
Australia 51 Wins
South Africa 57 Wins
No Result/Tied: 4.
South Africa has the edge historically and has been the most dominant side in recent ODI series.
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch has shown a bit of balance between bat and ball. Pace bowlers have been able to extract some bounce, but spinners like Maharaj have been effective.
Anticipated Score—Teams batting first may be looking for 300+.
Weather—Partly cloudy with a temperature of around 23°C. Slight chance of rain (25%), but unlikely to be disruptive to ODI.
Australia Preview
Australia’s ODI side is $3850 and full of holes. Admittedly, it is in transition, struggling to replace an aging Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, who lost the ability to age. They are always going to be losing when their batting fails, and theirs has failed quite consistently other than Marsh and Inglis.
Key Issues:
Top order collapses regularly
No partnerships through the middle
Undependable bowling apart from Adam Zampa.
Predicted Playing XI:
Travis Head
Mitchell Marsh (c)
Marnus Labuschagne
Cameron Green
Josh Inglis (wk)
Alex Carey
Cooper Connolly
Ben Dwarshuis
Nathan Ellis
Xavier Bartlett
Adam Zampa
Key Players:
Mitchell Marsh: For Australia he is the leading run scorer for this series and is able to anchor the innings if necessary.
Josh Inglis: Scored a fine 87 in the 2nd ODI and showed real fight against Ngidi.
Adam Zampa: The most consistent bowler in this series, taking key wickets.
South Africa Team Preview
South Africa has been clinical in their efforts, with both senior players stepping up to lead and young players adding depth behind them as well. The batting depth, led by Breetzke and Stubbs, and the bowling, led by Ngidi and Maharaj, mean that they will present a very balanced squad.
Strengths:
Consistent contributions from the top and middle order
The whole bowling unit firing collectively with both pace and spin
Confidence from winning five successive bilateral ODI series against Australia
Predicted Playing XI:
Ryan Rickelton (wk)
Aiden Markram (c)
Temba Bavuma
Matthew Breetzke
Tristan Stubbs
Dewald Brevis
Wiaan Mulder
Keshav Maharaj
Senuran Muthusamy
Nandre Burger
Lungi Ngidi / Kwena Maphaka (expect rotation)
Key Players:
Matthew Breetzke: First batter in ODI history to start his career with four consecutive half centuries.
Lungi Ngidi: Match-winner in the 2nd ODI with 5/42.
Aiden Markram: Captain, and put in a very strong contribution first up with a quick 82 in the 1st ODI.
Match Scenarios & Predictions
Case 1: Australia Bats First
Predicted Score: 280–290
Result: Australia wins by 40+ runs.
Case 2: South Africa Bats First
Predicted Score: 285–295
Result: South Africa wins by 40+ runs
Betting Tips & Prediction
Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss will likely bat first.
Best Batter: Aiden Markram (SA)
Best Bowler: Lungi Ngidi (SA)
Value Bet: Nathan Ellis to take 2+ wickets
Final Thoughts & Analysis of the Match
This ODI may be a dead rubber in terms of series result, but it serves as a significant game for both teams in their preparation for the 2027 World Cup. South Africa seems stronger in form & momentum, whereas Australia requires a win to restore confidence. If Australia's top order gets going, they have enough firepower to get the win. However, given the two games South Africa has dominated until this point, they remain strong favorites to sweep the series completely 3-0.
Prediction: South Africa wins (series 3-0).
