LIVE TODAY MATCH AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRIQA 1ST ODI

LIVE TODAY MATCH AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRIQA 1ST ODI

After claiming the T20I series with two massive victories, the visiting Australian side will be confident going into the ODIs, the first of which will be played in Paarl on Saturday.

Overview:

South Africa v Australia, 1st ODI
Boland Park, Paarl
Saturday, 29 February; 1:00pm local, 11:00am GMT

South Africa have held the advantage in recent ODI bilaterals between the sides, winning seven out of their last eight games against Australia across two series, including a 5-0 sweep at home in late 2016.

But those stats will not count for much when the sides face off for the first game of this series at Boland Park. Australia have been on the rise since March 2019, when they defeated India in their backyard, and have shown few signs of stopping since Steve Smith and David Warner returned to the setup.

Australia's batting looks especially formidable with the presence of those two, Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne. Their bowling unit, led by Mitchell Starc, is just as threatening, but are prone to having an off day every now and then.

Australia have, at times, struggled for balance, and that is where all-rounder Mitchell Marsh can come in to add stability to the middle order, while also chipping in as a reliable sixth bowling option.

The young Quinton de Kock-led South Africa will have their task cut out and the captain will have to lead by example for the inexperienced batting unit. The bowling attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi, is a lot more likely to pose Australia some serious troubles.

Remember the last time:

Australia stumbled in a seemingly straightforward chase in the second match to let up the chance of a clean sweep, but made no such mistake in the first and third T20Is, winning those games by 107 and 97 runs respectively.

The sides last met in an ODI at the World Cup, when South Africa, powered by a century from Faf du Plessis, posted 325/6, which Australia fell 10 runs short of despite Warner's outstanding 122. Kagiso Rabada took three wickets in the game.

Conditions:

The pitch at Boland Park tends to have plenty in it for the seam bowlers and will excite the fast men on both sides. The weather at Paarl is expected to be cool and clear.