The third and final T20I match between Australia and South Africa is scheduled for Saturday at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns. This venue will be hosting its first-ever international T20 match, adding an element of unpredictability to the contest. With the series currently tied at 1-1, the pitch’s behavior and the toss-winning captain’s decision will be under close scrutiny. Cazaly’s Stadium has previously hosted two Test matches and five ODIs, with Australia historically performing well at this ground. However, the limited T20 exposure makes the conditions challenging to assess. The most recent match played here was a BBL 2022-23 clash where the Melbourne Renegades successfully defended a target of 166 against the Brisbane Heat, winning by 22 runs. The early part of that match showed good bounce, favoring seamers in the powerplay. However, the pitch seemed to slow down as the innings progressed, making batting more difficult in the later overs. Given the pitch’s unpredictable nature and the scarcity of T20 data, opting to bowl first appears to be a prudent strategy. The team that bowls first could gain an advantage by assessing the batting conditions and how the ball is behaving, potentially making the chase more manageable. Australia faces an injury setback with Mitchell Owen ruled out due to concussion, while South Africa enters the match with boosted confidence following a remarkable victory in the 2nd T20I against Australia.
