South Africa vs Australia, Australia tour of South Africa, 2020, Today Match Prediction 26 Feb 2020

sa vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

Host South Africa will be looking to clinch the T20I series when they face Australia in the third and final game at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Wednesday.

With the series is evenly poised at 1-1, South Africa will be keen to finish the task this time around and win the T20I series on home soil. Captain Quinton de Kock and co. will need to raise their standards with bat and ball to overcome Australia in the series decider at Newlands.

On the other hand, Australia will just see this defeat as an aberration and will be keen to make a strong comeback against South Africa in the series finale. The visitors will take heart from the fact that they haven’t lost a T20I series against South Africa in South Africa.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

The home side will not make any changes to their playing XI for this series decider. Dale Steyn might have sit on the sidelines for this final game. Captain Quinton de Kock led from the front with the bat and smashed 70 runs off 47 balls in the second T20I game played at Port Elizabeth. Since becoming captain of the side, De Kock has shown exceptional consistency with the bat and will be looking to do more of the same for South Africa in the series finale.

Reeza Hendricks and Faf du Plessis will need to make notable contributions in order for South Africa to post a competitive score on the board. The duo failed to capitalize on their good starts and perished for scores of 14 and 15 respectively.

Rassie van der Dussen once again delivered runs for South Africa in a must-win game. The middle-order batsman scored 37 runs off 26 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes. He put on crucial partnerships with Quinton de Kock and David Miller to help South Africa post a decent total on the board.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the pace trio of Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada to make crucial breakthroughs. Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada put in excellent spells in the death overs to help South Africa eke out a narrow win at Port Elizabeth. Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets and conceded 41 runs from his four overs.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock (captain & wk), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, PJ van Biljon, Lungi Ngidi

Australia Preview

The visitors will be determined to bring their A-game to the table with bat and ball in this third and final game of the series. Australia will be aiming to win their fourth T20I series on the bounce.

For this series finale, the side will be relying on the in-form top-order trio of Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steven Smith to do the bulk of the scoring. In the 2nd T20I game, David Warner found form with the bat and smashed unbeaten 67 runs off 56 balls with the help of five fours and one six. Left-hander will rue the fact he should have taken more risks and helped Australia win the game at Port Elizabeth.

Besides Warner, Aaron Finch has been a bankable performer for Australia in the 20-over format despite scoring 14 runs in the previous game. Steven Smith also chipped in with 29 runs off 26 balls with the help of one four and one six. Wicket-keeper Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade will be given the task to go for big runs in the final stage of the innings.

In the bowling department, the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Kane Richardson have delivered excellent performances in the games played so far. Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar also have done well in the first two games of the series.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Aaron Finch (captain), Steven Smith, David Warner, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey, KW Richardson, Ashton Agar, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, David Warner, Adam Zampa

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Traditionally, the wicket prepared for the game will provide an interesting game between bat and ball. The spinners will get assistance from the surface at Newlands. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Wednesday is expected to have clear skies throughout the day.

Venue Details

Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town is going to host the third and final game of the T20I series between South Africa and Australia. The home side will need to make amends of their poor record at Newlands.

On the other hand, Australia have a formidable record as they have won their last five T20 matches at Newlands.

Toss: To Bowl

Given the nature of the wicket at Newlands, both teams will be looking to win the toss and bowl first. Majority of the T20I matches played at this venue have been won by sides batting second.