South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test prediction, playing XIs and Cape Town pitch report — who will win the decider?

Some series refuse to behave. Two Tests have produced two lopsided results, each winner clawing out of a deep early hole with the bat, and the scoreline of 1-1 feels less like a stalemate than a held breath. Now it all comes down to Newlands, where the series, the No.1 Test ranking and Australia’s uneasy history in Cape Town are all on the line.

South Africa shook off a year without Test cricket in Durban, and Australia produced one of their worst displays under Pat Cummins in Gqeberha. The crowds have been thin and the old hostility has gone quiet, but the stakes are loud enough. A South Africa win lifts them to No.1 and would sit nicely beside the WTC mace they already hold. A draw is enough for Australia to stay on top.

The toss has already been decided, with Australia choosing to field. South Africa made the most of it early, reaching 90 without loss after 20.5 overs. Marques Ackerman brought up a fifty off 63 balls, and Aiden Markram has been busy at the other end on 38 from 62. Josh Hazlewood has gone wicketless for 27 from 6.5 overs and Cummins has taken 0 for 21 from five, so the new ball did little for Australia.

Markram is the man to watch and averages 56.84 against Australia, with three hundreds in seven Tests. South Africa’s shaky middle order was rescued by a Temba Bavuma masterpiece last time, and he needs seven more runs to reach 4,000 in Tests. Kagiso Rabada, four wickets from 350, has been the spearhead of an attack that roughed up Australia’s batters, and Marco Jansen sits on 99 Test wickets with the best bowling average of any South African in the modern era.

Australia’s problems are well known. Their batting has wobbled, and Cameron Green returns from injury to try to steady it. Steven Smith, who averages 35.28 in South Africa against 55.29 overall, is not in the XI, which leaves Travis Head, Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne under pressure to deliver

South Africa vs. Australia prediction: Who will win? 

South Africa to win.

They have the momentum, the opening stand has already blunted Australia’s attack, and Rabada and Jansen are in form. Australia’s batting has to rescue them from a long way back, and a draw looks the only realistic escape 

The Cricket News Prediction: South Africa to win.

South Africa vs Australia lineups, team news for 3rd T20I

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South Africa lineup for Australia

Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada

Australia lineup for South Africa

Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood 

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South Africa vs Australia pitch report, 3rd Test, Newlands, Cape Town

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