By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Australia avoided a 3-0 clean sweep against South Africa after winning a rain-affected third and final ODI match by 45 runs via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) Method in NWC Oval,Potchefstroom.
The rain started at 8.30pm with the Proteas well behind on DLS and the umpires then called the game off at 9.30pm.
Australia had earlier posted 322-9 on the back of captain Mitchell Marsh’s third successive half century and Alex Carey’s 74 off 88 balls.
South Africa were on 145-4 after 28 overs, 46 runs short of their revised target of 191. Ryan Rickelton was unbeaten on 71 but running out of partners in a depleted batting line-up.
South Africa rested captain Temba Bavuma, David Miller and Marco Jansen and saw Tony de Zorzi hurt his hamstring while fielding, which meant he could not bat.
Australia welcomed back Pat Cummins, who was playing just his third ODI since leading his country to the World Cup title in 2023.
Australia are scheduled to play a two-day warm-up match against a CSA Invitation XI in Potchefstroom on Saturday and Sunday before the first test starts at Kingsmead, in Durban, on Friday, October 9.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wkt), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Nqobani Mokoena, Lizaad Williams.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wkt), Cameron Green, Xavier Bartlett, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.