South Africa made significant adjustments to their side for the final ODI against England in Potchefstroom, following a six-wicket loss in the second match of the series. Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta, and Ayanda Hlubi were omitted, paving the way for Lara Goodall, Anneke Bosch, Mieke de Ridder, and Masabata Klaas to feature.
England, having elected to bowl first on a warm afternoon, introduced Lauren Bell into their lineup, replacing Lauren Filer. Despite Filer’s standout performance of 3 for 32 in Durban, England opted for rotation among their seamers, likely with an eye on managing workloads ahead of the upcoming Test match in Bloemfontein.
South Africa’s reshaped batting order faces the challenge of setting a target under the pressure of England's spin and seam attack. Chloe Tryon, South Africa’s top scorer in the previous game, emphasised the importance of maintaining a proactive approach against England's spinners, noting, “Once you get into your shell against world-class players, they're just going to get you out.”
For England, Maia Bouchier highlighted the team’s focus on continuing their momentum, stating, “This is the big one. We want to win this game and the series… The girls put in an exceptional performance last time, and if we could replicate that, it would be amazing.”
The series decider promises a competitive clash, with both teams eager to claim the final ODI victory.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Lara Goodall, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Mieke de Ridder (wk), Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka
England: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell