AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers will need to fire if South Africa are to win the Tri-Nation series in West Indies [Getty]

Australia take on South Africa in the third match of the Tri-Nation series at Providence Stadium, Guyana, on 7 June (Tuesday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 6pm BST/10.30pm IST. Live coverage of the game is available on Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 3 HD in the UK.

Overview

Australia and South Africa have been two of the more competitive teams in the world since the late 1990s. The world champions come into this clash after thrashing hosts West Indies by six wickets on 4 June and it was not the seamers but the spinners who were the wreckers on the turning surface in Providence, Guyana.

Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell took seven wickets with Lyon who was dropped from the World T20 squad in particular looking dangerous. Apart from the helpful pitch, the spinners maintained an impeccable line and length. Expect the trio to trouble the South African batsmen on Tuesday.

David Warner, who is coming off an excellent IPL season, again showed why he should be considered one of the best batsmen in the world, leading Australia's chase with an unbeaten 55-run knock. Usman Khawaja aside, the rest of the batsmen struggled to cope with the spin.

The Proteas were blown away by a Sunil Narine special spell in the first game, with the wily spinner taking his career-best figures of 6/27. Though they lost that game, South Africa come into this clash knowing that they have one of the better batting attacks in the world and any line-up which features Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers will be feared irrespective of the conditions.

The spinners, Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso, did their bit, but they were eventually limited by lack of runs on the board. J P Duminy might have more of a role to play considering that the three-spinner rule is proving to be a success on the turning tracks in Guyana.

Prediction

South Africa to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • Australia to win: 4/6
  • South Africa to win: 23/20

Team news

Australia

Possible XI:David Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon.

South Africa

Possible XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw, AB de Villiers (c), JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir.

Australia cricket South Africa cricket