The seventh day of the Cricket World Cup is another double header day of action, one which sees India getting their campaign underway on Wednesday in the first of the two games. They take on South Africa in the opening match of the tournament at the Hampshire Bowl.
While India are getting their competition up and running, South Africa will be fighting to salvage their hopes even this early in the tournament after two losses to kick things off with. They wouldn’t be out with defeat here but they would be left needing to win their last six matches to progress.
AllSportsBetting Podcast
Kev and Steve have a good look into both sides and deliver their best bets for the match. There is even a pick for this one from Steve! Find out what it is and why by clicking the play button below!
South Africa
I don’t think it needs me to say that South Africa have not offered their best cricket in their two matches to date but more worryingly is that their limitations have been exposed right from the outset in the competition. I never once thought they had enough batting depth so they needed the batsman that they do have to hit the ground running. Very few have and it has led to something of an epidemic.
If that wasn’t bad enough, their strength – their bowling – has been decimated by two key injuries and that doesn’t look the potent force that it once might have done so the Proteas are going to have to come up with something out of the ordinary if they are to pick up the win they crave so badly. The only positive from the two defeats is that few outside of their camp will expect them to win this so from that extent they don’t have a lot to lose here.
India
We’ve already seen one or two of the fancied sides in this tournament looking a little edgy so I would imagine the first thing that India will want to deliver here is a confident performance. Should they do that then they will rightly feel they have enough to win the match. Beyond that if their top four can all get up and running with runs that will be something of an added bonus as you would expect India will build their way into the tournament.
If India are going to win this World Cup then their bowlers will have to do much of the work for them so the first impression that they make on this event will be interesting to see. In theory, there is no weakness to their attack but they are on a good pitch for batting here so it will be intriguing to see what they have to offer in that department.
Team News
Dale Steyn was ruled out of the tournament for South Africa on the eve of the contest. That is a huge blow for the Proteas because he was expected to come into the side for the injured Lundi Ngidi. Hashim Amla is expected to play while Dwaine Pretorius may have to come in.
India look to have solved their problem number four spot with KL Rahul getting that after a century in the warm up match. That leaves the decision over the third seamer as their only selection choice. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is battling for that.
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Betting
India faced a much better South Africa than this one in South Africa last year and came away 5-1 winners of that series and the margins in which they won those matches makes me think they are not only good things here but can win with a fair bit to spare. They picked up those victories by 6 wickets, 9 wickets, 124 runs, 73 runs and 8 wickets – my point being none of them were close. AB de Villiers played in three of those matches and their batting looks incredibly light in his absence. Morne Morkel played five times and they could do with his bowling here. If a stronger South African side couldn’t come close to India in their own conditions I don’t see how this one does. I’m on India to cover a handicap.
The boundaries line for this match is 62.5 which looks a little high given the size of the ground here. Firstly, South Africa have only made 25 and 26 boundaries on a smaller ground than this at The Oval and if we go back to that series last year in decent South Africa conditions the boundaries totalled 54, 30, 43, 49, 48 and 53 so never got close to this number. South Africa’s batting is struggling at the minute but they are competitive with the ball. When you think there was rain in the area on the eve of the contest that boundary line looks a bit on the high side to me.
The other bet I like in this match is for Kuldeep Yadav to be the leading wicket taker for India. He bagged 17 scalps in that series against South Africa last year and his mystery makes him very potent against any side. He especially matches up well to South Africa though because they are traditionally shocking at facing quality spin. Kuldeep took nine wickets in three matches in England against the world number one side last summer and at 10/3 he looks a fair price to lead the wicket taking here.
Tips
WON – Back India (-4.5wickets/18.5 runs) to beat South Africa for a 5/10 stake at 1.80 with Betway
Back them here:
WON – Back Under 62.5 boundaries for a 5/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back it here:
Back K.Yadav Top India Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 4.33 with 888sport
Back him here:
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