MACKAY, Australia (AP) — Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bat against high-flying South Africa in the third and final one-day cricket international on Sunday. South Africa has already sealed its fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series win against Australia, with two big victories at Cairns and Mackay, beating the home team by 84 runs and 98 runs, respectively.

“Wicket looks good for batting”: Mitchell Marsh

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh wants to capitalise on the favourable batting conditions. “Wicket is good for batting and we want to post a total on the board,” he said.

Temba Bavuma was back to lead the Proteas after missing the game on Friday due to workload management. “We would have batted first as well, but it’s time to bowl well in the game,” he said.

Matthew Breetzke, who became the first men’s players to hit four successive scores of 50-plus in his first four ODIs, was left out of the top-order and made way for Bavuma.

South Africa also rested the player of the second match, Lungi Ngidi, who took a five-wicket haul, and Nandre Burger, as Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka replaced the duo in the playing XI.

The home team, looking to avoid a whitewash, didn’t tinker with its struggling top-order batting line-up, but included Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly in place of rested Josh Hazlewood and Aaron Hardie.

Key Match Insights

The team batting first has won both matches in the three-game series, as the pitch favours the batters. However, the track slows down and starts assisting bowlers in the second innings. South Africa have dominated the Aussies.

Playing XIs

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kwena Maphaka.

FAQS

Q1: Who won the toss?

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the second ODI.

Q2: What was the toss time today?

The toss was held at 09:30 IST.

Q3: Why did the captain choose to bowl?

Mitchell Marsh has decided to bat first because of the wicket.

Q4: Where is today’s match being played?

The match is being played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay.