Bowlers hold key in final game (Preview)

Two matches into the ODI series, two of the best limited overs outfits-South Africa and Australia-haven’t set the world on the fire yet. Both the sides haven’t been at their best, but, yet, any fixture attracts all the attention.

The series is tied with a scoreline 1-1 and go into the last match to be played at Kingsmead Durban with series in line. In the first encounter, the visitors outplayed South Africa in all three facets of the game to go 1-0 up but the hosts returned the complement in an emphatic fashion to draw level the series.

Australian win was fashioned out by some decent batting effort from Ricky Ponting and their skipper Michael before bowlers did a terrific job to defend a target in a rain marred game. It was South Africa’s turn to be on a winning side thanks to solid fifties from Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, David Miller and JP Dumminy to give them a 300-plus score. Under lights at Port Elizabeth, Morne Morkel led bowling show annihilated Aussie batting line-up to set up a lop-sided victory.

The way the South Africa won last game should give the hosts much needed confidence going into the final game. Barring their stand-in skipper Hashim Amla, all other batsmen in the top order were amongst runs in previous encounter. And, the bowlers did a fantastic job to give their side advantage. Morkel was phenomenal and Johan Botha’s tight and thrifty off-spinners should a feel good about kind of factor. And, if it is South Africa, one needs not to worry about that department of the game.

With so much to play for: expect teams to be at their best. Australia have some fitness issues to deal before the all important fixture. Their ace all-rounder Shane Watson is still recovering from a back spasm he sustained last game. His absence would mean robbing Australia an explosive opening option and a fourth seamer. Shaun Marsh is also not a certainty but if he gets fit in time out of form Steve Smith might be dispensed with.After a good performance in the opening game, the bowlers got some stick to have bad day in the office. In particular, the death overs saw Aussie bowlers being carted around to all corners of the ground.

Australian team management would want their top order to be bit more attacking. David Warner at the top hasn’t given them the explosive start for he has consumed far too many deliveries to team management’s liking to get his runs. In Watson’s absence Ponting has been forced to open and the former skipper followed his solid fifty in the first game with an early dismissal in the second.

Both the sides boast of some terrific batsmen in their line-up. The summit clash could well be decided by the bowlers from either side. South Africa though can claim to have edge having likes of Dale Steyn, Morkel and Botha in the ranks.

South Africa Squad: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, Imran Tahir, Jean Paul Dumminy, Faf de Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Australia Squad: Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron White.