South Africa have clinched the Standard Bank one-day series, but they still have a point to prove in the final game at Supersport Park on Sunday.
South Africa won the series when the sixth match, at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, had to be abandoned because of rain. South Africa have won three matches, England won one, and one match was tied.
South African skipper Graeme Smith said that winning the series was very satisfying, but it would have been more satisfying to have won the sixth match and proved a point.
”We were very disappointed after our loss in the Test series, but we came back well after losing the first match at the Wanderers. We want to prove a point on Sunday,” he said.
With the series secure, South Africa may make some changes to the team.
Adam Bacher will probably be given another chance at opening the batting, and Jacques Rudolph, who has not played at all in the series, may be given a chance.
England were also determined to go home with another one-day victory under their belts.
Captain Michael Vaughan said that there was still plenty of motivation, despite the loss of the series. ”It’s always better to get on the plane home with a win in your last game,” he said.
”We thought we could have won on Friday, and we will be going hard at South Africa on Sunday.”
Darren Gough, who bowled brilliantly on Friday, taking two wickets for 14 runs in his nine overs, will probably miss Sunday’s match, as he has a virus. Alex Wharf, who took three for 48, will almost certainly make his second appearance of the series.
Teams:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Nicky Boje (vice-capt), Adam Bacher, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph.
England: Michael Vaughan (capt), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick, Alex Wharf.
– Sapa