SA vs AUS Fantasy Prediction, 3rd ODI: South Africa vs Australia Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Potchefstroom

South Africa have already won this series. They backed up their opening win with an even bigger performance in the second ODI, posting 365/9 and restricting Australia to 333 despite Pat Cummins’s return to the side. Temba Bavuma’s side have now won five matches in a row across this series and their earlier sweep of Namibia. This third match is a dead rubber, and the forecast suggests it may not be completed at all. With the series already decided, the SA vs AUS 3rd ODI Fantasy Team will focus on the players who could make an impact if the match gets underway.

South Africa vs Australia 3rd ODI Match Details

Match: South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI
Series: Australia tour of South Africa 2026
Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Time: 11:30 AM Local Time
Venue: JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Live Streaming: Crex, FanCode and Eurosport

Series Already Decided

South Africa have won both matches of this series so far, the first by 67 runs and the second by 32 runs despite Australia fielding a strengthened attack with Pat Cummins’s return. This third match cannot change the series result, and it caps a remarkable recent run for South Africa, who have now won five ODIs in a row stretching back through their 3-0 sweep of Namibia.

An Extremely Serious Weather Concern

This is worth stating plainly before anything else. Wednesday in Potchefstroom is forecast for rain, 93 percent humidity, a temperature around 16.9°C, and a 100 percent chance of rain. Given the series is already decided, there is a real possibility this match is heavily reduced or abandoned altogether. Check official confirmation of the toss and any early delay before finalising any fantasy team.

Recent Form

South Africa have won five in a row. Beyond the two wins in this series, they swept Namibia 3-0, including a 348 run total in the first match of that series.

Australia have lost two in a row, both in this series, after completing a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe beforehand, including Travis Head’s century and a 356 run total.

SA vs AUS Head to Head Record

South Africa lead the head to head 8-2 over the last 10 meetings, having now won both matches of this series. Australia’s two wins in that stretch both came in a series in Australia last year, including a huge scoring match where they chased 431 to win by 5 wickets.

SA vs AUS Squads

South Africa: Temba Bavuma captains the side. Quinton de Kock and David Miller add serious experience to the middle order, and Marco Jansen and Kwena Maphaka lead the pace attack.

Full squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Duan Jansen, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqobani Mokoena.

Australia: Pat Cummins returned as captain for the second ODI and is likely to continue in that role for this match, having played his one confirmed outing already. Travis Head has been in outstanding recent form throughout this tour.

Full squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Pitch Report

JB Marks Oval has hosted 11 tracked matches. The side bowling first has a slight edge, winning 55 percent of matches against 45 percent for the side batting first. The average first innings score is 269, dropping to 239 in the second. The highest total at the ground, 418, came from Zimbabwe against South Africa, and the same match also produced the highest successful chase, 273, showing this can be a high scoring venue in normal conditions.

Pace has a clear edge here, taking 60 percent of the wickets over the last 10 matches against 40 percent for spin.

Weather Report

This is a serious concern. Wednesday in Potchefstroom is forecast for rain throughout, 93 percent humidity, a temperature around 16.9°C, and a 100 percent chance of rain. A significantly reduced or abandoned match looks likely.

Probable Playing XIs

South Africa (Probable): Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Gerald Coetzee.

Australia (Probable): Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

These are estimates. Final XIs, and whether the match is played at all, are confirmed at the toss.

Key Player Battles

Quinton de Kock vs Australia’s bowling attack: De Kock has been part of a South African batting order that has scored heavily throughout this series, and continued form here would round off a strong series for the side.

Travis Head vs South Africa’s bowling attack: Head has been in outstanding recent form across this entire tour, and a big score here would be a rare positive for Australia in an otherwise disappointing series.

Marco Jansen vs Australia’s top order: Jansen has been a consistent contributor for South Africa throughout this series, and early wickets would continue that trend if the match goes ahead.

SA vs AUS Fantasy Team

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock (VC), Alex Carey

Batters: Travis Head (C), David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram

All-Rounders: Marco Jansen, Cameron Green

Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Keshav Maharaj, Mitchell Starc

Head is captain given his outstanding recent form throughout this tour. De Kock is vice captain as part of a South African batting order that has been in excellent touch across this whole series.

Given the severe weather risk, treat this fantasy team with real caution, since the match may be significantly reduced or not played at all.

Also Read- SA vs AUS Fantasy Prediction, 2nd ODI: South Africa vs Australia Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Johannesburg

Match Prediction

South Africa have been the outstanding side of this series and enter this match on a five match winning streak, so on form alone they would be favourites again.

Australia will want a response after two heavy defeats, and Travis Head in particular has shown he can produce a big score against any attack.

Given the series is already decided and the forecast shows a 100 percent chance of rain, the weather is likely to be the biggest factor in this match, well ahead of either team’s form.

SA vs AUS 3rd ODI Fantasy Team – FAQs

Q. Who will win the SA vs AUS 3rd ODI today?
A. South Africa have been the stronger side throughout this series and enter on a five match winning streak, though the 100 percent chance of rain means this match may not be completed at all.

Q. Has the series already been decided?
A. Yes. South Africa won both the first and second ODIs, so this third match is a dead rubber for the series result.

Q. Is there a serious rain threat for this match?
A. Yes, an extremely serious one. The forecast shows a 100 percent chance of rain throughout the day, so a significantly reduced or abandoned match looks likely.

Q. What is the SA vs AUS Fantasy prediction for the 3rd ODI?
A. Travis Head is the top captaincy pick given his outstanding recent form. Quinton de Kock is a strong vice captaincy option given South Africa’s batting form this series.

Q. What happened in the second ODI of this series?
A. South Africa won again, posting 365/9 and restricting Australia to 333 in 49.5 overs, a 32 run win that secured the series 2-0.