The Proteas must win the third ODI against Australia in Potchefstroom if they want to stand another chance of walking away with the series laurels.
The South Africans came a poor second in Bloemfontein and the visitors won the opening matches by three wickets and 123 runs respectively.
According to Heinrich Klaasen, the string of defeats is not yet a cause for concern – even with the World Cup around the corner.
“The intensity with which the Aussies play is significantly higher than ours and we will definitely have to work on our attitude on the field,” said the batsman in the run-up to the Potchefstroom showdown.
Klaasen – who could be one of the Proteas’ danger men at the World Cup spectacle in India – did, however, warn that the team must get an urgent adrenaline injection.
Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma were able to start the Protea innings on a brisk note in North-West today and after 15 overs the Protea score stands at 97/0.
De Kock scored his first ODI fifty in 11 tries, while Bavuma provided the necessary consistency.
Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Klaasen and David Miller will be expected to build on the good foundation, while Marco Jansen together with Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi will then have to keep the Aussie batsmen in check.
- Teams:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha and Josh Hazlewood.
