South Africa's ODI captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the third and final One-Day International against Ireland due to a soft tissue injury on his left elbow. In Bavuma's absence, Rassie van der Dussen will take over the captaincy duties for the final ODI against Ireland on Monday, with South Africa already clinching the series 2-0. The 34-year-old picked up the injury during the second ODI on Friday when he landed awkwardly on his elbow while making his ground at the non-striker's end in the 12th over of South Africa's innings. The injury prevented him from fielding for the remainder of the match.
Bavuma will head back home with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and is set to consult a specialist to determine the full extent of his injury. Reeza Hendricks has been named as his replacement and is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi later today. Additionally, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has returned home for personal reasons, leaving the Proteas to shuffle their playing XI.
South Africa's Coaching Staff Takes the Field
However, the injury to Bavuma wasn't the only surprise to come out of the third ODI. Retired South African cricketer JP Duminy, who currently serves as the team's white-ball batting coach, was seen fielding during the final over of the innings in the 3rd and final ODI against Ireland at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The incident occurred during the final over of Ireland's batting innings as Harry Tector attempted a reverse swat off Andile Phehlukwayo's bowling. With the ball turning sharply after landing, Duminy had to dive to prevent the Irish batters from running extra runs.
This unexpected sight of a coach fielding was a result of the intense heat in Abu Dhabi. Duminy stepped in to field as some of the South African players experienced fatigue due to the scorching temperatures. This unusual moment has been widely shared on social media, with fans expressing their amusement and surprise.
Ireland's Strong Performance in the Final ODI
Despite the absence of Bavuma and Mulder, South Africa will be looking to sweep the series with a win in the final ODI. Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to avoid a whitewash after leveling the T20I series earlier in the tour. They put up a strong fight in the final ODI, setting a challenging target of 285 for the Proteas.
The Irish openers, Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, laid the foundation for a competitive total with a 101-run partnership in the first 23.2 overs. Stirling led the way with a top score of 88 runs, while Balbirnie contributed 45 runs. Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, and Lorcan Tucker also made crucial contributions with scores of 34, 60, and 26 respectively.
South Africa's bowling attack was led by Lizaad Williams, who took four wickets for 56 runs in his ten overs. Otteneil Baartman and Andile Phehlukwayo each took two wickets.
Looking Ahead
While the final ODI result is yet to be known, Bavuma's injury is a significant setback for South Africa. The captain's absence will be keenly felt in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting on October 21. It remains to be seen how the team will cope without their regular skipper and how the injury will affect his long-term availability.
The Proteas will be hoping for a swift recovery for their captain and will be looking to maintain their momentum heading into the Test series. However, the focus now shifts to the final ODI against Ireland, where the South Africans will be looking to complete a clean sweep of the series. The outcome of this match will likely be determined by the team's ability to overcome the absence of Bavuma and Mulder and deliver a strong performance against an improving Irish side.
