Australia vs South Africa 3rd ODI: Australia win by 45 runs on DLS, Proteas take series 2-1

Updated Thursday 1 October 2026. Australia beat South Africa by 45 runs on the DLS method in the rain-hit 3rd ODI at Potchefstroom, so South Africa take the series 2-1 instead of sweeping it. Alex Carey made 74 off 68 balls, his first ODI fifty in more than a year, captain Mitchell Marsh 56 off 42 and Ollie Peake 48 as Australia reached 322 for 9; Corbin Bosch took 4 for 60. Rain ended the chase with South Africa on 145 for 4 after 28 overs, 45 runs behind the DLS par. Ryan Rickelton was 71 not out off 81 balls; stand-in captain Aiden Markram made 15 and Quinton de Kock fell for a duck. Adam Zampa (2 for 34) and Xavier Bartlett (2 for 25) did the damage.

Earlier, Wednesday 30 September (before the result): Australia vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, is under way in Potchefstroom on Wednesday 30 September 2026, with Australia batting first after stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl in cold, overcast conditions. A wet outfield delayed the toss and the start by half an hour, but no overs were lost. South Africa already lead the three-match series 2-0, so Australia are playing to avoid a clean sweep.

Australia vs South Africa in Pakistan time

It is a day-night match. After the delay, play began at about 5pm PKT, so the innings break falls around 8:30pm PKT and the result is likely close to midnight PKT. Live scores of this and every match Pakistani fans follow are in our cricket match centre.

How the series got here

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh is the series' leading run-scorer with 200 runs at 66.66, and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has six wickets at 12.33 for South Africa.

Five changes for South Africa, big names back for Australia

With the series won, South Africa rested Temba Bavuma and other key players ahead of the Tests, and brought in Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Ryan Rickelton, Nqobani Mokoena and Gerald Coetzee. Australia made three changes: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Ollie Peake came in for Jack Edwards, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Nqobani Mokoena.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake, Alex Carey (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Why Pakistani fans are watching

Both sides are building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the same tournament Pakistan are preparing for with an ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England at home from 18 October. South Africa's depth, and how Australia's quicks handle the Highveld, are a preview of the conditions Pakistan will face there next year. Pakistan's own fixtures are on our Pakistan cricket schedule 2026-27.

What comes next: three Tests

The tour match starts on Saturday 3 October; the first Test follows in Durban on 9 October.