Australia vs South Africa Prediction: Back 13/8 Proteas to secure series whitewash in 3rd ODI

South Africa won the second ODI with ease on Friday, wrapping up the series, meaning only pride is on the line in Sunday's final clash. 

Dan Thomas takes a look at the best betting angles for the match, live on TNT Sport from 05:30, as he brings us his Australia vs South Africa predictions for the third and final ODI of the series… 

Aussies searching for winning formula 

Australia once again faltered with the bat in the second ODI, folding for just 193 despite an excellent 87 from Josh Inglis. Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Marnus Labuschagne disappointed, highlighting a repeated inability to build partnerships or counter South Africa's sustained bowling pressure. 

While the hosts showed some fight with the ball, with Adam Zampa taking three wickets and Labuschagne a further two with his part-time spin, the platform was never there for a chase.  

The defeat means the Aussies have now lost their last three ODI bilateral series; finding the right balance in the team following the retirement in this format of key stars Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell remains a challenge.  

Record-breaking Breetzke inspires Proteas 

With Temba Bavuma rested for workload management reasons, South Africa relied on their middle order, led by Matthew Breetzke (88) and Tristan Stubbs (74), to deliver what always looked like a competitive total of 277 batting first. 

Breetzke continued his remarkable run of form, becoming the first man in ODI history to begin his career with four consecutive half-centuries. But it wasn't enough to secure player of the match awards given Lungi Ngidi's excellence with the ball. The pacer ripped through the Aussies, taking five wickets and ensuring they were never in the game.   

Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the final ODI with injury, while Prenalen Subrayen will not feature after coach Shukri Conrad confirmed he would be withdrawn from the limelight until his bowling action has been reviewed. 

Pitch & conditions 

Saturday was our first look at the Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena as an ODI arena since 1992 and it appeared to offer assistance for both spin and pace. It's another day/nighter on Sunday where the forecast is set fair, with no rain expected.  

Key odds 

Despite comfortable defeats in the first two matches - losing by 98 runs then 84 - Australia remain strong favourites for this encounter, at 1/2 with South Africa rated an 13/8 chance. While there's always danger betting in a dead rubber, that away win price looks too big. 

Head and Marsh head the Australia top batter markets, at 10/3 and 7/2 respectively, with Inglis 9/2 to repeat his win from the second ODI. The returning Bavuma is the favourite to top score for the Proteas at 10/3, with Ryan Rickelton at 4/1. Breetzke is a 9/2 chance to continue his record breaking form with the bat.  

Zampa is 14/5 favourite to take the most wickets for the hosts, ahead of Hazelwood (3/1) and Xavier Bartlett (10/3), while Ngidi (13/5) and Keshav Maharaj (11/4) top the market for South Africa after their five-wicket spells in the first two matches.  

*You can check out all the latest and live Australia vs South Africa Odds for the 3rd ODI over on betfred.com

Best bets 

South Africa's win price hasn't changed despite the dominant win in the second match and we have to go in at 13/8; they go into this game brimming with confidence and have match winners throughout the side.  

And after both teams were bowled out at Mackay on Friday, we'll add in Over 16.5 Wickets in the match to the portfolio. The pitch gave the bowlers plenty of assistance and we'll bank on something similar happening on Sunday.  

Dan Thomas 2025 Cricket P/L:

• Staked: 28.5pts 
• Returned: 22.67pts 
• P/L: -5.33pts 

Find more Cricket Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights