Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 3rd ODI between Eng and SA

South Africa are two nil down in the five match series and need their senior players to urgently step up and be counted. England are a young and peppy side full of players with a fresh attitude towards cricket and their uninhibited style of play has meant that England are on the verge of winning the series against a very good ODI side like South Africa with matches in hand. The carnival has moved to Centurion and the Protea team will be hoping that the venue brings better news for them at the beginning of a new week.

3 Fantastico Battles that could have an Impact in the 3rd ODI:

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock Vs Reece Topley and David Willey

Amla had has a very quiet series after he finished on a high in the Test series. In both the ODI's he had been out bowled, once each by the two young new ball English bowlers. He will be keen to prove that the low scores were only a blip and will want to boss the new comers. De Kock has been in fine form and his Fantastico 138* off just 96 balls almost won them the game in Bloemfontein before rain intervened but even in that high scoring encounter the English new ball bowlers were economical. Topley picked up 4 wickets in the last match which pegged the South African’s back in the final 10 overs and he will be hoping to repeat his performance.

Jos Buttler Vs Morne Morkel

Although the entire English team has contributed in its two victories but Buttler has been the major difference between the two sides. His audacious ton in Bloemfontein meant that England racked up a mammoth 399 batting first while in the second match he smashed a 48* off 28 balls to kill the chase and bring the game home that was threatening to go in South Africa's favour. Morne Morkel is one bowler who is experienced and with his extra height and pace rattle Buttler. Morkel was the most economical of the South African bowlers in the 2nd ODI going at under 4 to the over while he also scalped two crucial wickets. He will have to step up for South Africa and try to stop Buttler from taking the game away with his peppy stroke play.

AB de Villiers Vs Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali

De Villiers has been a little unlucky in the two matches as he was caught brilliantly by Stokes on the boundary at Bloemfontein while it was Jordan who snaffled an absolute blinder at Port Elizabeth. De Villiers will be hoping that the rub off the green goes his way at Centurion. He batted well to score a 70 odd in the last game on a pitch that was slow and tired but got out just when he was beginning to open up his shoulders. He was out to Ali in the first match and was slowed by the two spinners in the second. AB is a Fantastico player of slow bowling and it remains to be seen how long the English spin duo can keep the champion South African batsman quiet.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.