Australia vs South Africa Live Score, 3rd ODI of Australia tour of South Africa, 2026

Onto the Tests - Temba Bavuma receives the trophy and joins his teammates for the customary photograph. It was a good audition for some of the South African fringe players, with several of their ODI regulars missing through injury. Australia, meanwhile, have had a good workout, first in Zimbabwe and now in South Africa, two of the three host countries for next year's World Cup. The focus now shifts to the much-anticipated Test series between the two finalists from the previous WTC cycle and the teams currently sitting 1 and 2 in the rankings. The first of three Tests will be played in Durban, starting Friday, October 9, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 am GMT. Do join us then. Cheers!

The skipper of South Africa - Temba Bavuma says the result did not go their way, but the game provided a good opportunity to give some players a chance. Ryan Rickelton got some runs under his belt, while Gerald Coetzee made an impact with the ball, which Bavuma says were positives to take. Having already gone 2-0 up, South Africa had the luxury of resting a few players and giving others opportunities. Bavuma says the game was never treated as a dead rubber, with the team continuing to work on building momentum and overcoming the challenges in front of them.

The captain of Australia - Mitchell Marsh starts by saying that he is pleased with the win, but would have liked a full game. Adds that the batting effort overall was better today, and it was a disappointing series, but it's good to end with a win. He then talks about gradual improvement, as they have a lot of inexperienced players who will learn from these conditions. Goes on to say that South Africa are a class side, especially at home. On his own batting form, he says that it feels good to contribute with the bat.

PLAYER OF THE SERIES - For picking up 6 wickets in the series, Keshav Maharaj takes home the award. Keshav says it was nice to lead the attack and credits his teammates for bowling well around him. Shares that he has been working really hard with the aim of building towards the ODI World Cup. Maharaj mentions that getting his lengths right is key for a spinner in South Africa, while understanding the batters and having clear game plans is equally important. He says that he was encouraged by the turn and bounce at the Wanderers and also praises Bjorn Fortuin for bowling exceptionally well alongside him.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Alex Carey has been given the award for his crucial knock of 74 runs from 88 balls. Carey says that the openers got them off to another flying start, but so far they haven't managed to capitalise until today. He goes on to say that having rain play a role isn't good, but feels that his side were well ahead by then, and goes on to credit South Africa as deserving winners of the series. On their preparation for the Test series, Carey says that they have a tour match before the 1st Test, and he is looking forward to it.

Time for the presentation ceremony, which will take place indoors as it is still raining.

Left a few runs out there - That was the general consensus at the halfway mark regarding Australia's innings. Earlier, after losing the toss on a chilly afternoon, it was Mitchell Marsh who brought the heat with his ball-striking. South African quicks were all over the place in helpful conditions but managed to wrest back control through the middle phase. Alex Carey forged a couple of key partnerships and kept the scoreboard ticking. His departure came at an inopportune time, which meant Australia could not finish as well as they would have liked and had to settle for 322.

Zampa makes the difference - Australia's new-ball pairing were a lot better than their counterparts and showed how to bowl on this track. They were rewarded with a couple of wickets in the first Powerplay before Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke got a partnership going for the home side. They kept the chase on the right track for a while, before Adam Zampa derailed it with a double strike. From there, the rest of the attack made sure the Proteas couldn't find any breathing room, and the required run rate kept climbing. When the rain interrupted play, South Africa were 45 runs behind on DLS, which was a fair reflection of how far the game had drifted from them.

Handshakes all around - That's that for the game. Australia win by 45 runs on DLS and end the series with a consolation victory. Rain in the lead-up meant we had a delayed start by 30 minutes, and it stayed away for long enough before it took the players off, and we never got back on the park. By then, though, Australia had done enough to put themselves in a strong position, and were deserving winners. South Africa take the series, but the Aussies head into the Test series with some much-needed momentum.

7.16 pm GMT - It is currently pouring down in Potchefstroom. The steady drizzle has turned into a full-blown storm of sorts at present. With every passing minute, the hopes of a restart are dwindling, but there's some time before play can be called off. If it does come to that, Australia will win on the DLS method. Let's hope that we do get some sort of a reduced chase.

6.47 pm GMT - Well, the covers are still on, and the drizzle hasn't relented either. So, this might be a longer break than we first anticipated. It is that kind of rain that is just annoying. It isn't pouring down, but it isn't light enough either to continue playing. We can just wait and hope for the best. Stick around for further updates.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

6.31 pm GMT - There's a conference between the two umpires. And there you go. The covers are being brought on. The rain has been steadily getting stronger, and the umpires feel that it is strong enough to take the players off the field. The current DLS par score for South Africa is 190, so they are well behind. Let's hope that it is a short break, and we can get back playing soon. Stay tuned for further updates.

Oh, that was close! Flat and short, just outside the off stump. Bosch goes on the back foot and makes room to force it through the off side. The ball skids through to beat the bat.

Flatter and it is not all that short, on the pads. Corbin flicks it off the back foot towards mid-wicket, where the fielder moves to his right but lets it through. By the time the fielder in the deep can get around, the batters pick up a couple.

Offers flight, full and on off. Rickelton drills it to long off for a run.

Spears in a full ball, on middle. Bosch pushes it to long on for one more.

Flighted up, on the pads. Corbin wrists it to mid-wicket.

Darted in at the sticks, on a length. Rickelton eases it to long on for a single.

Stays around the wicket for the right-hander, serves a short ball, angled away. Bosch hops and punches it to cover.

The rain has picked up again, along with the wind, which is actually blowing the rain away a bit. It's pretty chilly out there as well.

Angled in at the hips. Rickelton tucks it the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.

Cummins is acing the battle at the moment against Rickelton, but the wicket remains elusive. Off-cutter, on a back of a length, on off. Rickelton flashes but can only connect with thin air.

On the off pole, on a short of a length. Rickelton pats it to cover.

A big swing and a miss! You can feel the pressure building on Ryan Rickelton. Cross-seam ball, on a back of a length, outside off. Rickelton has a heave across the line but the ball sails over his blade.

At 136.8 kph, on a back of a length, on off. Rickelton punches it to cover.

Slows it down and the length is dragged back, on middle. Rickelton knocks it to long on for another single.

Full and fired in at the pads, Corbin flicks it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Floated up, on off, Bosch taps it to cover.

Spinning back in, on a nagging length, on middle. Rickelton uses the depth of the crease and punches it to long on. They cross.