We reach the halfway stage of the ongoing ODI series between South Africa and India on Wednesday when the two sides head to the delightfully picturesque setting of Newland’s in Cape Town for the third match in six in the series.
India have been so dominant in the series to date that they can secure a share of the overall spoils with a win in this match. That would take them three up with three matches to play. South Africa must win this match to be able to win the series.
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South Africa
Once again South Africa will not need to dig too deep to work out where they have gone wrong over the first two matches. It has been blindingly obvious. They have played the two leg spinners beyond terribly and if that does not change then this series could get really nasty for them. They do have injuries and we should recognise that but the same mistakes will be exposed.
You would like to say that at least South Africa have bowled well but they haven’t even done that. They have found it tough to put any pressure on the top order of India and as a result they have barely taken a wicket in the series. They need a massive upping of their game if they are to remain in with a chance of winning this series.
India
India will be delighted with how well this series is going. They were heavy underdogs going into the series although I suspect that was more conditions based than anything else but two emphatic wins later and it is very hard to see any other outcome than India winning the series at some point. If they go 3-0 up here a 6-0 whitewash would loom large on the horizon.
India just need to keep on doing what they are doing really. That is keeping things tight in the early overs with the ball so that South Africa have to attack the spinners which they’ve been useless at and then when they bat just keep up the tempo they have been batting to. If they do that it is hard to see them losing.
Team News
The injuries keep on coming for South Africa and now Quinton de Kock has succumbed to one. He will miss out so Heinrich Klaasen will come in for him. Aiden Markram will not only captain the side but he will open too.
India are unlikely to make too many changes until the series is secured so we can expect them to go in with the same side unless there is a late injury or illness which they have not shared with everyone.
Newlands
India began their tour with an entertaining match on this ground and they play another match here. This is South Africa’s ODI fortress. They have played in 33 of the 39 ODIs here and have won a staggering 28 of them with just five losses. Given their record here it is a surprise that India have a 2-2 ratio from their four games.
The pitch here usually has a bit in it for everyone. There is talk of a bit of nip for the seamers but both sides made 300 when South Africa played Sri Lanka here last year and we should expect the wicket to yield plenty of runs once again.
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Betting
I’ll go with a couple of value bets for this match. Ladbrokes have a request-a-bet type thing up for Virat Kohli to score 50 and India to win at 2/1 which looks a perfectly acceptable price to me. He did just that in the first match and he was four runs short of 50 when India got home in the last game. He is a tremendous one day batsman and India look all over South Africa right now. This could very well be 2/1 Kohli scores 50 and those odds are ones I’m happy to take.
I’ll also take a chance on Kuldeep Yadav being the top India bowler in the match. He led the wicket taking for the visitors in the first match of the series and three more in the second game. He was outdone by Chahal in that match but Yadav bowled 2.2 overs less than his rival. If they bowl complete their 10 over spell here I fancy Kuldeep may get the better of Chahal for a second time in the series and at 7/2 we will be nicely rewarded if he does assuming a seamer doesn’t go bonkers.
Tips
WON – Back V.Kohli to score 50+ and India to win for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Ladbrokes
Back it here:
HALF WON – Back K.Yadav Top India Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 4.50 with Betfred
Back him here:
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