Live Cricket Score, South Africa vs Australia Triseries Final: De Villiers in Revenge Mood as South Africa Aim at Consistency Ahead of World Cup

Harare: Australia take on South Africa in the Zimbabwe ODI triseries final at Harare. Catch all the live updates here: (Scorecard).

South Africa will be looking to get a win against Australia in the final keeping in mind the preparations for the 2015 World Cup.

© AP

Predictability will meet adaptability when South Africa face Australia in Saturday's triangular series final in Harare.

Australia have a middle order packed with power hitters such as Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, who have twice seen them to scores above 325 in a tournament characterised by slow, dry pitches.

Meanwhile, South Africa's batsman tend to be more orthodox as they rely on their inherent quality - as they did when AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis scored hundreds to chase a target of 328 in the first meeting between the two sides last week. (Also read: Australia have the edge, says Johnson)

However, Australia's own adaptability has not always been up to the mark - most notably when they failed to get the hang of a turning pitch on Sunday and lost to Zimbabwe for the first time in 31 years.

While Australia appear to have settled on their best team since that defeat, with Steve Smith returning to provide a second spin option and Kane Richardson preferred to James Faulkner, McLaren's departure has forced South Africa to rebalance their side. (Also read: Ryan McLaren arm break signals Mitchell Johnson's intimidating form)

Rilee Rossouw was drafted into the team to provide an extra batsman in Thursday's victory over Zimbabwe, as Imran Tahir made way to leave Aaron Phangiso as the only specialist spinner.

The Australian team in action against South Africa during the Zimbabwe triseries.

© AFP

While both sides still have plenty of cricket to play before next year's World Cup - and will face each other in a five-match series on Australian soil later this year - De Villiers acknowledges that there are points to be scored in a rivalry over which no love has been lost.

"It's a make-or-break game and those are the sort of games you want to be a part of and that you want to test yourself in," he said.

"It's a great opportunity to go one-up on them before we go into that all-important series before the World Cup in Australia."

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Shweta Pandey

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