Pakistan have already sealed the three-match series after victories in Paarl and Newlands but the hosts still have plenty to play for according to Temba Bavuma.
The ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan in February and the Proteas do not have many 50-over matches to fine-tune their skills ahead of the tournament.
“Whether it be batting, bowling or fielding, we just want to find ourselves getting closer and closer to being the best,” Bavuma told reporters on Saturday.
“If we’re honest with ourselves we’re not close to where we want to be. We haven’t played our best cricket in all the different facets of the game.
“We know there’s still a lot of work to do for us to get to that level. There are not a lot of opportunities from a playing point of view within the 50-over space, so we’re going to have to find a way to really up our game, our skill level and our intensity to again become the competitive, strong unit we know we’re capable of being.”
The Proteas have used the series to rest and rotate players, especially with the crucial Test series against the same opponents starting on Boxing Day.
Bavuma sat out the first ODI before returning for the Newlands encounter while fast bowler Kagiso Rabada missed the defeat in the second game.
Keshav Maharaj was ruled out of the three-match series due to a groin strain while the uncapped Corbin Bosch has been added to the squad after seamer Ottneil Baartman suffered a knee injury.
Bavuma added: “We don’t have all the resources in terms of players available, but for the guys coming in it’s an opportunity to show they can contribute within the team.”
