England vs South Africa – 3rd ODI Preview (7 September 2025)

Match Details

• Teams: England vs South Africa
• Series: South Africa Tour of England 2025 – 3rd ODI
• Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton
• Date & Time: 7 September 2025, 11:00 AM GMT (3:30 PM IST)
• Format: ODI (50 overs)
• Series Standing: South Africa 2-0, England 0-2

Series Recap

South Africa have taken complete control of the ODI series so far, securing two convincing wins:

• 1st ODI (Leeds): South Africa chased down 132 in just 20.5 overs, winning by 7 wickets. Key performances from Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis laid the foundation for the chase.
• 2nd ODI (London): South Africa defended 330 against a fighting England batting lineup, winning by 5 runs. Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj were instrumental with the ball, taking 3-45 and 4-53 respectively.

England, despite a strong batting display in the second match, have been outplayed in the field and with the ball. Their bowling attack, which lacks a consistent strike bowler, will need to step up in this decider.

Key Players to Watch

England:

• Harry Brook (c): The captain has the responsibility to lead from the front with both bat and leadership. A strong innings from Brook could change the momentum.
• Joe Root: The veteran batsman has struggled in recent ODIs but remains a vital cog in the middle order. A return to form is crucial.
• Jacob Bethell: The leg-spinner has been England’s most consistent bowler in the series. A disciplined performance with the ball could be the difference.
• Ben Duckett: The opener has shown flashes of brilliance and can anchor the innings. A solid start will be key to England’s chances.

South Africa:

• Temba Bavuma (c): The ODI captain has been steady with the bat and is the anchor of the side. His leadership and technical ability will be vital.
• Dewald Brevis: The 21-year-old has been in sensational form, scoring 78* in the second ODI. If he can convert starts into big scores, South Africa will be hard to stop.
• Lungi Ngidi: The fast bowler has been brilliant in both matches, picking up 5 wickets. His ability to take early wickets can cripple England’s batting.
• Keshav Maharaj: The off-spinner has been the go-to man in the middle overs. His ability to contain and take wickets will be key in tricky Southampton conditions.

Venue and Conditions

The Rose Bowl, Southampton is known for its even-paced pitch and supportive outfield. The ground is smaller than Lord's or Headingley, which could favor aggressive batting and quick scoring. However, the dew factor in the evening can assist spinners, especially in the death overs.

South Africa will look to capitalize on the pitch’s batting-friendly nature, while England will need to find a way to contain the Proteas’ explosive middle order.

Head-to-Head

As of the start of the 3rd ODI, South Africa lead the series 2-0. The Proteas have been in dominant form, with a solid balance between batting and bowling. England, on the other hand, will be under pressure to avoid a whitewash.

Historically, South Africa have had a strong record in England in ODIs, and with the current momentum, they are favorites to complete the job.

Prediction

South Africa remain the strong favorites to complete a 3-0 series victory. England will need to make adjustments, especially in the bowling department, and produce a more disciplined performance if they are to have any hope of a win.

Prediction: South Africa to win by 6-8 wickets in a tight chase.

Final Thoughts

This 3rd ODI promises to be an exciting contest. While South Africa are in red-hot form, England still have the talent to pull off an upset. With the series on the line, both teams will come in with a point to prove. The result will depend heavily on the performance of key bowlers and whether England’s middle order can hold up under pressure.

Catch all the action from 11:00 AM GMT at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.
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