South Africa vs Australia Live Score: Australia in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2026 Live Updates and Ball-By-Ball Commentary

Australia (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Oliver Peake (In for Jack Edwards), Alex Carey (WK), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (In for Nathan Ellis), Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc (In for Josh Hazlewood), and Adam Zampa.

Australia's skipper - Mitchell Marsh says that it's a shame that the series is done, but there's a lot to play for. Adds that they have a few changes, some of them forced as well, but the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Oliver Peake come in.

The stand-in captain for South Africa - Aiden Markram says they will bowl first, with the weather around and the pitch having been under covers influencing the decision. If there is any assistance on offer, he expects it to be early on before the surface settles down.

TOSS - The two captains are out there in the middle, and it will be Aiden Markram captaining South Africa today. The coin flip lands in Markram's favour, and South Africa will BOWL first.

11.22 am GMT - There is an update from the ground. The inspection was scheduled a few minutes before and the umpires have now decided that the play will start at 12 pm GMT.

Toss delayed - The broadcasters come live, and we can see that there's no rain at the moment. However, conditions are a bit gloomy, and Pommie Mbangwa confirms that there was rain last night and earlier in the day - and hence, we will have a delay at the start. Probably not a long one, though, which is good news.

The weather in focus - There has been plenty of rain in the Highveld region in the past couple of days, but it seems like the worst of it has passed since last night. The skies in Potchefstroom will be gloomy, and the overall air will be pretty chilly. Let's hope that we do not get any further rain today, but we might have to wait and see, if there's any sort of a delay to begin with or not. Stay tuned for the toss and team news, and any news regarding the weather as well.

Expected changes on the way - Both sides will most likely tinker with their squads. Australia have injury concerns and might even rest Josh Hazlewood. Pat Cummins might come in, and if he does, he will get some quality game time ahead of the Test series. South Africa might also look to rotate their squad, or will they try to keep things simple and push for a clean sweep? We shall find out.

... MATCH DAY ...

It's all about momentum - The three-match ODI series between South Africa and Australia moves to its final chapter at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, with the Proteas already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead. South Africa won the opening ODI in Durban by 67 runs before producing another impressive all-round performance at Johannesburg to win the second match by 32 runs. Although the series is decided, the third ODI remains significant for both sides. South Africa will be looking to complete a clean sweep and maintain the momentum they have built ahead of their upcoming three-Test series against Australia, while Australia will want to finish the ODI leg with a victory and avoid heading into the red-ball format without a win. Proteas' bilateral dominance over the Aussies - South Africa have been impressive in both matches, combining substantial batting performances with disciplined bowling. Their victory in Durban was built around a 297/8 total before Australia were dismissed for 230, while the second ODI turned into a high-scoring contest in Johannesburg, where the Proteas posted 365/9 and then defended the total successfully, notching up yet another ODI series win over Australia, who last won a series against the African opponents in late 2014. The second match particularly highlighted the depth of South Africa's batting. Temba Bavuma scored a composed 103 from 116 balls, while David Miller produced an explosive 142 from only 93 deliveries. Their 156-run partnership transformed South Africa's innings after Australia had made early breakthroughs. The lower order then added valuable runs to push the total beyond 360. Bavuma's return to the ODI side has therefore been an important feature of the series. The captain has provided stability at the top while players such as Miller have supplied the acceleration through the middle and later stages. Quinton de Kock and Matthew Breetzke also give South Africa attacking options at the top of the order. The challenge for Australia - Australia's ODI campaign has not gone according to plan. They have been competitive in periods of both matches but have been unable to sustain that pressure for 50 overs. Their second-innings chase in Johannesburg demonstrated their batting potential, with Mitchell Marsh making 84 from 53 balls and Travis Head scoring 84 from 76. Australia reached 333 but ultimately fell 32 runs short. The opening partnership between Marsh and Head will again be an important component of Australia's strategy. Their aggressive approach can put South Africa's bowlers under pressure early, but Australia will need greater contributions from the middle order if they are to chase or build a large total. The visitors also have several players capable of producing a decisive performance. Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly and Alex Carey all have the ability to extend an innings, while Adam Zampa provides an important wicket-taking option in the middle overs. Bowlers could be decisive - The bowling contest could determine whether Australia can finally break through South Africa's top order. Josh Hazlewood has already shown his quality during the series. He removed Markram with the first ball of the second ODI and then dismissed de Kock shortly afterwards, finishing with three wickets. However, a huge blow to Australia will be the ruling out of Nathan Ellis, who injured himself in the second game. Ellis has been the team's most consistent performer with the ball, but we might see someone like Pat Cummins finally make an appearance. Jack Edwards was another positive for Australia in Johannesburg. Playing only his second ODI, he claimed five wickets for 67 runs and provided Australia with regular breakthroughs. If Australia's attack can reproduce that sort of wicket-taking pressure, South Africa's middle order could be tested more severely. For South Africa, Lizaad Williams was influential in the second ODI, taking three wickets for 54 runs. Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin also contributed two wickets each, giving Temba Bavuma several options throughout the innings. While Kagiso Rabada remains a noteworthy absence, the spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin and even Aiden Markram have done really well, and once again will be key for the Proteas. The conditions - The final ODI will be played at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, a venue that will provide a different challenge from Kingsmead and the Wanderers. Unlike the first two matches, this match is scheduled as a day-night encounter, with the later stages potentially bringing different conditions for the two innings. For the batters, the major challenge will be balancing the need to score quickly with the importance of preserving wickets. A strong start could be particularly valuable in a 50-over match, but both teams will know that the middle overs could determine the final score. Form (Last 5 ODIs, most recent first) - SA - WWWWW | AUS - LLWWW. What to expect? South Africa enter the final ODI with considerable momentum after winning both games convincingly enough to secure the series. Their batting has produced two strong totals, while their bowling attack has repeatedly found important wickets when Australia appeared to be building partnerships. Australia, however, have shown enough with both bat and ball to suggest that the final match could be considerably closer. Their challenge will be to maintain pressure for longer periods and convert promising passages into a complete performance. With the series already decided, South Africa have an opportunity to finish with a 3-0 sweep, while Australia have the chance to salvage a victory and carry some momentum into the Test series. The clash at Potchefstroom therefore remains an important final examination for both teams despite the absence of series uncertainty. Who are you backing for the win?