South Africa vs Australia

The first ODI between South Africa and Australia was a high scoring one in Centurion on Friday and the second game of the series in Johannesburg on Sunday is expected to follow suit. South Africa won the opening game so they head into this match knowing a win will move them two up with three to play. Australia will be desperate to win else they have a mountain to climb to get back into the series.

South Africa

It wasn’t a perfect performance from the home side in the first match but for an opening game of the series it was perfectly acceptable and we know there is plenty more to come from them too which is important. They didn’t bowl particularly great at Centurion although we should cut them some slack in that department as there was nothing in the wicket.

They certainly didn’t leave anything behind with the bat in that first game with Quinton de Kock quite brilliant and Rilee Rossouw provided able support. When you think they have Hashim Amla in reserve there is a lot more to come from them with the bat and that spells danger for Australia going forward.

Australia

The Australians would have felt pretty good about things midway through their batting innings. They were scoring well and finding the boundaries with relative ease but then they left 25-30 runs out there not that it would have mattered because they were given the real run around with the ball.

Australia knew they would be up against it when they picked the bowling attack that they did but the way they went around the park will already have been sending alarm bells ringing around their dressing room and on a ground relentless for big hits and batting paradises they need to shape up quickly if they are not to be on the wrong end of another tonking.

Team News

Hashim Amla is expected to come back into the side for this match. He could replace Ferhaan Behardien although Dale Steyn is an injury doubt with Aaron Phangiso a potential replacement for him if he doesn’t make it to the starting gate.

Australia simply have to change their bowling attack. They got creamed with ease on Friday so something will give and it will probably be Daniel Worrall who makes way. Joe Mennie could come into the side in his place.

Johannesburg

This will be the 44^th ODI to be held at The Wanderers with the most famous of them being the meeting between these two when Australia failed to defend 434 in the greatest limited overs match of all time. In all South Africa have 22 wins and eight defeats in 30 matches here while Australia’s record is 6-3 from nine matches.

We know this is a high scoring ground. It is a tiny ground and it is at altitude so the ball flies much further here and the wicket is usually completely flat so expect the runs to flow in this match once again.

Betting

I’m never one for betting on the outcome of matches on this ground because it is so impossible to defend but all things being equal Australia are going to have to really find something to avoid going 2-0 down in the series.

I’m concentrating on the sixes in this match though where I’m amazed the sixes line is as low as 13.5. There were 20 sixes between the two in Centurion on Friday and this is a ground famous for plenty of sixes. I’m not expecting either side to back down from here on in so the overs on that line looks pretty obvious to me given how the first game was played out.

I also like South Africa to be beyond 50.5 runs in their first 10 overs. They romped to 87-0 through 10 overs in Centurion and I’ve already mentioned how fast scoring this ground is. When you beat the infield you tend to get four or six and de Kock is doing that with ease right now. It looks a no brainer to take the overs on a ground South Africa have covered this line on in their last four matches.

Tips

Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power

Back it here:

WON – Back South Africa’s first 10 overs – Over 50.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral

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