AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers will miss the entire series against Australia due to a elbow injury [Getty]

South Africa host Australia in the first One Day International (ODI) at SuperSport Park in Centurion on 30 September (Friday). This is the first of the five-match ODI series.

Where to watch live

Match starts at 12.30pm BST. Live TV coverage is available on Sky Sports 5 and Sky Sports 5 HD. Click here for the live streaming link.

Overview

South Africa started their summer on a perfect note and thrashed Ireland by 207 runs in their last ODI at Benoni Park on Sunday (25 September). Batting first, the Proteas scored 354 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 50 overs, with openers Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock impressing with the bat.

Bavuma, who made his ODI debut, scored 113 runs, while de Kock too got in the action scoring 82 runs while part-time spinner JP Duminy picked up four wickets giving away 16 runs.

The Proteas will be without regular skipper AB de Villiers who has been ruled out of the entire series due to an elbow injury, while pace-bowler Morne Morkel (injury) will be missing from action.

The hosts do have match-winners in Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Faf du Plessis and de Kock in their line-up and will go into the clash as the favourites.

Meanwhile, opponents Australia come into this clash on the back of a resounding nine-wicket victory over Ireland. Their bowlers did a good job of restricting Ireland to 198 runs, with Adam Zampa in particular picking up three wickets. Opener Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith helped their side reach the total with ease.

The Men from Down Under come into this series with an excellent batting line-up, but what will worry them is that their bowling is considerably weak as a number of regulars are missing due to injury.

In the absence of Mitchell Starc, John Hazelwood and James Faulkner, the onus will fall on John Hastings and Zampa to lead the bowlers, which will make the contest interesting as they are not very experienced. While Australia are the number one ranked side in the world, their inexperience in the bowling department might make them the underdogs come 30 September.

Prediction

South Africa to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • South Africa to win: 4/5
  • Australia to win: 1

Team news

South Africa

Possible XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (c), Rilee Rossouw, JP Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia

Squad: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (c), George Bailey, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), John Hastings, Adam Zampa, Scott Boland, Daniel Worrall.

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