South Africa v New Zealand 3rd ODI Preview: Pace to light up the final clash

South Africa v New Zealand 3rd ODI Preview: Pace to light up the final clash: South Africa v New Zealand 3^rd ODI will be the final and decider of the series with the two teams knotted at 1-1. With the Ashes ending, Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test over; Clarke, Sanga and Rogers’ retirement, finally getting a curtains down, every eye searching for cricketing action rests on these two teams.

South Africa v New Zealand clash has been missing the expected spark and fury, the first win that came for the Proteas by 20 runs was more of an everyday schedule than a brutal fight and the 8-wicket victory of New Zealand was evident halfway through the match. The past matches have however seen inventive tactics, as the spinners opened the bowling attack which is a rare sight in South Africa, some drolling moments when the dropped catches left the audience go, what? But, the fight is missing a spark that was expected from the two teams, with the trophy at stake maybe a nail biting game awaits today.

Both the teams have tried several combinations in the 1st two matches but as the series is at stake with the final match at the Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa as well as New Zealand will look to field a more settled XI, with proper balance. The pitch is lavish green and will neither need paint nor will hear complains unlike the dead, dry pitch of Highveld. It is a quick outfield, and thus will support fast bowling but will also be decent to bat on.

Rilee Rossouw has been the in-form batsman for the South African side, supported by Amla who scored a ton in the first match but failed in the second, although Rossouw does not have a proof for his form as he hasn’t scored big. He can opportune the last match for scoring big to claim a prominent place in the over-crowded South African middle order after Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy return. Farhaan Baherdein is another name that looked good in the 1^st ODI.

As for the Black Caps the opening batsmen hardly let the middle order come to bat, the shuffling middle order had unchanged Tom Latham in both the matches where he crossed half centuries. Whereas his partner in the first ODI Luke Ronchi failed to score in the 2^nd ODI; Martin Guptill has hit a ton as well. With skipper Kane Williamson carrying good form down the order the New Zealand’s upper batting line up looks strong.

As far as the bowlers are concerned the pitch is expected to assist them, so the fast bowlers will always be in the game. Kyle Abbott is the only member of the South African ODI team who has not been given a chance to play, so he may get an opportunity to come up to play on his home ground tomorrow. Vernon Philander looks good so the choice will tick between Abbott and Kagiso Rabada.

The Kiwis will most probably retain the winning team with the only probable change on cards being one of the two present spinners which will go wasted on the quick pitch. Ish Sodhi or Nathan McCullum will sit out to make way for a pacer, which will either be Mitchell McClenaghan or Matt Henry who will get his first opportunity.

If South Africa wins the 3^rd ODI it will move up to the 2^nd spot in the ICC ODI team ranking and replace their opponents who are currently the 2^nd best ODI team of the world.

Probable XI:

South Africa:

Morne van Wyk (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (c), Farhaan Beherdien, David Miller, David Weise, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbot, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

New Zealand:

Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), George Worker, Grant Elliot, James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Dough Bracewell, Mitchell McClenaghan/ Matt Henry, Adam Milne.