An overnight downpour left the outfield wet at the start and delayed the toss, with things hardly improving much through the course of the day when several inspections took place in between intermittent drizzle that continued to fall.

The hosts did win the toss when it took place and decided to bowl first under the grey skies as the tourists made four changes to their line-up. Lungi Ngidi had to withdraw as a precautionary measure due to a mild hamstring muscle injury, while Simon Harmer and Aiden Markram also made way. Rassie van der Dussen was already ruled out of the match due to a fracture of his left index finger.

Into the starting XI came Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder Khaya Zondo and Ryan Rickelton.