South Africa chase a 3-0 sweep in Potchefstroom with three Tests against Australia to come

South Africa can complete a 3-0 one-day sweep of Australia at Senwes Park on Wednesday, with a three-Test series against the same opponents to follow in October

The series was settled at the Wanderers on Sunday, when South Africa won the second one-day international by 32 runs to move 2-0 ahead with a match to spare. Only the whitewash is still on offer in Potchefstroom.

Australia come to the last match of the leg with a thinning squad and two defeats behind them, the first of them by 67 runs in Durban after their batting had given the innings away from a comfortable position.

Both sides have one eye elsewhere. South Africa are expected to rotate with three Tests beginning on 9 October, while Australia are looking for a result in the country that stages the next 50-over World Cup.

Breetzke and the spinners set the tone in Durban

South Africa made 297 for 8 at Kingsmead on 24 September, built around a century from Matthew Breetzke and a lower order that kept the rate moving.

Australia were 129 for 1 in reply and in no trouble at all. They were bowled out for 230 in 41.2 overs, with Keshav Maharaj taking 4-20 and the spinners squeezing the middle order until it broke.

It was the pattern the rest of the series has followed.

Bavuma and Miller pile them on at the Wanderers

Three days later South Africa posted 365 for 9 in Johannesburg, with centuries for captain Temba Bavuma and David Miller, whose 142 was the innings that put the game beyond reach.

Australia's reply was the best cricket they have played on the tour. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh made 84 apiece and the total reached 333 in 49.5 overs, still 32 short.

The visitors did find something. Jack Edwards took 5-67 on debut, and Lizaad Williams answered with 3-54 for the hosts.

Australia count the cost

Nathan Ellis and Joel Davies were ruled out of the final match after picking up a side strain and a hamstring strain respectively at the Wanderers, and both have left the tour.

Edwards, the one Australian to come out of Johannesburg with his reputation raised, has been monitored with a hamstring concern of his own. Josh Inglis is also unavailable.

Cameron Green has neither bowled nor scored heavily in the two matches, leaving the selectors a decision to make in a squad that has little left to draw on.

South Africa look past the one-dayers

The hosts have managed this without two of their frontline quicks. Kagiso Rabada has been held back for the Test squad and Lungi Ngidi has not featured, with Nqobani Mokoena, Duan Jansen and Williams called in across the series as cover.

Aiden Markram missed the opener and South Africa won anyway, which is the argument their selectors have been making about squad depth for most of the year.

With the first Test nine days away, several of those who will play it are expected to be rested at Senwes Park.

Rain in the forecast

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Potchefstroom for the 5pm IST start, which puts an unusual weight on the toss and raises the prospect of a shortened game or none at all.

South Africa have lost nothing so far to the weather. Australia, who need the full 50 overs far more than their hosts do, may find that the forecast decides the question for them.

A washout would leave the series at 2-0 and the tour moving on to the red ball.

A third win would complete the sweep and close the one-day leg of Australia's tour before the Test series begins.

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