Australia will aim to maintain their winning streak when they face South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 6 (Saturday). The result of this otherwise inconsequential encounter will determine Australia’s semi-final opponent. But For South Africa, it is only a game for salvaging back some pride. Meanwhile, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis have won the toss and have elected to bat first. South Africa have made a change, while Australia have gone in with the same playing XI. Australia vs South Africa Cricket Score 45th ODI Match.

South Africa opening batsman Hashim Amla has suffered a knock in the knee during the final training session yesterday and has been left out of the playing XI against Australia. Finger spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has replaced him. Imran Tahir is also playing his final ODI game for the Proteas. Australia, on the other, have gone in with the same team that thrashed New Zealand.

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon.

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Australia have won seven of their eight matches in CWC 2019 but sandwiched between those seven victories is Australia’s only defeat to India. The reigning champions are on top of the standings with have 14 points and a victory against South Africa will keep them ahead of other teams at the end of the league stage. The five-time winners are expected to test their bench strength and may play newcomer Peter Handscomb, who replaced injured Shaun Marsh in the World Cup squad.

For South Africa though this game will remind them of their disappointment campaign. Their final game against Australia was supposed to be a potential quarterfinal clash in pre-tournament. But here they are out of CWC 2019 and are only playing to fulfil the formalities. The Proteas have five points from eight games and have only beaten Afghanistan and Sri Lanka so far in the tournament.

The current champions also leads the head-to-head record in World Cups with three victories, while South Africa have won only once. Both sides were also part of what is regarded to be the greatest cricket match ever played in the 1992 edition.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2019 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).