South Africa vs Australia, Australia tour of South Africa, 2020, Today Match Prediction 29 Feb 2020

sa vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

After the three-match T20I series where Australia more or less dominated, the action moves to the 50-over format. Both Australia and South Africa have played one ODI series each in 2020. While Australia lost a hard-fought three-match series in India, South Africa drew 1-1 with England (one game was washed out). Australia is looking like a dominant side. They’ve bulldozed their way through in two out of the three T20Is. The Aaron Finch-led side hardly gave South Africa a chance when they won. The batting has looked good but it’s the bowling that gives Australia that edge.

Meanwhile, South Africa has had a tough time in 2020. They haven't won a single series this year and are coming into this rubber on the back of two 1-2 T20I series defeats. And it’s their batting that has been disappointing with Quinton de Kock doing the bulk of the scoring.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

The Proteas have made a few changes from the side that faced England a few weeks ago. Faf du Plessis continues to be on ‘rest’ while the likes of Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius have got a break. The pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are back in the ODI mix.

Skipper Quinton de Kock will open the batting and much will depend on him and his form. South Africa will heavily rely on him to get big scores. The left-handed wicket-keeper batsman is likely to walk out to bat with Janneman Malan who will make his ODI debut. Temba Bavuma has been impressive in the T20Is and should slot in at 3 with Heinrich Klaasen at 4 as van der Dussen’s absence opens up that slot. David Miller will be the key man in the middle and he will don the finisher’s role.

Meanwhile, South Africa have their pace attack back to its full strength with the return of Rabada and Nortje. They will combine with Lungi Ngidi to start off the ODI series. There is Keshav Maharaj in the squad but Tabraiz Shamsi will be the lone spinner.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Janneman Malan, Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, Kyle Verreynne, Quinton de Kock, Tabraiz Shamsi, Temba Bavuma, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo

Australia Preview

The Aussies have a set combination and have made only a few changes to the squad that toured India in January for the ODI series. David Warner and Aaron Finch will continue to open the batting with Steve Smith in at 3. The top three will be crucial to Australia’s chances given the slightly shaky middle and lower-middle order. All three of them have been in good form and had good hits in the T20I series. Marnus Labuschagne has fit in well in the one-day set-up at No. 4 and impressed in his debut series. Batting at 4 will allow him to pace his innings. Mitchell Marsh comes in for this series as he replaces Ashton Turner who had a disappointing time in India.

Alex Carey has been excellent in the middle order for Australia. The bowling attack wears a solid look. The trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been very good. They did take some beating in the ODI series in India but the former two looked in good rhythm in the T20I series. Australia is likely to go in with two spinners and Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa will complete the line-up.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey, Steven Smith, D'Arcy Short, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It is a day-night encounter and the weather conditions are perfect for cricket. It’s going to be sunny in the afternoon with the temperatures hovering around 33 to 35 degrees. It is going to cool down in the second half and conditions are clear in the evening as well. The pitch is likely to be a good one to bat on and the only Momentum One-Day Cup played at this venue produced close to 500 runs in the game.

Venue Details

The Boland Park in Paarl will be hosting an international match after nearly 16 months. It’s a picture-esque venue and it has hosted only ODI cricket. Only 12 games have been played at this venue in over two decades with six games won by teams batting first and five by teams chasing.

Toss: To Bowl

It’s going to be a slightly tricky call at the toss. At this venue, teams have won almost equally batting first and second. But as is the trend in white-ball cricket in most parts of the world, we may see the captain winning the toss opting to bowl first.