Australia vs South Africa: Cricket World Cup live scores, blog

Australia and South Africa will resume one of cricket’s biggest rivalries in all but dead rubber at the World Cup in the final match before the semi-finals get underway. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30pm (AEST).

This will be the 100th ODI between two nations who, despite their differences, have both been at the peak of ODI cricket for most of their storied rivalry.

Of those 99 completed ODIs, the win-loss record currently reads 48 to 47, going to show there has been absolutely nothing in it.

While this game is as good as a dead rubber, there is still plenty on the line for Australia. If they win, they will lock up a Tuesday semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester, meaning there will be no travel, and they get the easier of the opposition heading into the knockout rounds.

A loss though, and provided India get the better of Sri Lanka, Australia would be forced on their merry way to Edgbaston, where they would encounter the English buzzsaw, so there is still plenty to play for.

Australia have also been forced into change for this match, with Shaun Marsh breaking his arm in the nets on Thursday. He has been replaced in the squad by Peter Handscomb, although, it’s doubtful he will play unless Glenn Maxwell, who was also injured, is also ruled out.

Maxwell has been a key figure for Australia in the middle order, and if he was out, it would force the Aussies to move away from their fairly successful formula of starting conservatively before putting the pedal to the metal and backing their bowlers to get the job done.

While Australia’s formula has been questionable and their flaws obvious, South Africa have had the tournament from hell to date, sitting with just a couple of victories, and poor performance after poor performance to their name.

They will be heading back home after this match regardless, and the big question seems to centre around whether they have already checked out – and they may well have, given they haven’t played for eight days.

If they have, then this is going to be a real flogging, but even if they do rock up, the form of their top order hasn’t been anywhere near good enough, while their bowling attack has really struggled without Dale Steyn.

Prediction
The Aussies have been in winning form, despite it being not their best form. It’s hard to have complaints about a team who are seven and one, but they should be able to pick up another here and enter the finals on the winning foot.

Australia in a comfortable victory.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this final match before the semi-finals from 10:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

Game information

First ball: 10:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
TV: Live, Fox Sports 501 and Channel 9 Gem
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports, 9Now
Betting: Australia $1.50, South Africa $2.85
Overall record: Played 99, Australia 48, South Africa 47, Tied 3, No result 1
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena

Squads

Australia
Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

South Africa
Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, JP Duminy Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir