South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 29/2/2020
South Africa managed to win one match, but were otherwise heavily outplayed by Australia in their recent T20I series. Their rivalry now steps into the ODI arena, starting with a challenging series opener at Boland Park on Sunday.
The last time Australia came to South Africa for a bilateral was in 2017, when the tourists suffered a five-nil series defeat in somewhat of a turn up in the betting tips books. Cricket predictions for the outcome of this series are less one-sided.
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI – Match Preview
Where: Boland Park, Paarl
When: Saturday, 29 February 2020
Pitch conditions: The ground has hosted 12 ODis in its brief history since 1997. It has had an even share of victories for the teams who batted first and second. The last five ODIs here have seen the toss-winning captain opt to chase rather than set a total. Australia have never played an international match here. South Africa haven’t beaten opposition other than minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at this ground since 2012.
Weather conditions: Paarl is on the outskirts of Cape Town and is often a few degrees hotter than the city centre. The Proteas and Aussies can expect a hot, dry high of 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with no rain whatsoever predicted.
Start Time: 16:30 (IST), 11:00 (GMT)
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI – Latest Odds
South Africa and Australia are offered at 1.40 and 2.80, by Betway, respectively, to win the series opener. There are also some good markets on method of first dismissal, highest opening partnership,, who will hit a six and more.
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI – Team News
South Africa have rested batsmen Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius this series. The onus, then, is on the likes of Janneman Malan and Kyle Verreynne to step up if afforded the chance. Malan and Verreynne were named in the ODI squad for the preceding series against England, but didn’t play. This time, perhaps as early as this series opener, will probably different. The pair have played a lot of their domestic cricket in Paarl – and know conditions well. Test spinner Keshav Maharaj has been given a spot in the ODI squad. His left-arm spin could prove vital on a deck that’s probably going to be dry and allow for turn and bite.
Australia will remain without all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is still sidelined by injury. They’ve added Jhye Richardson to the squad in the meantime. The young seamer is pushing for berth in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite the different format, a solid showing here could push him toward the front of the queue ahead of the country’s other fringe seamers. David Warner made a telling return to South Africa with a characteristically quick half-century in the third and final T20I at Newlands. He has since been reinstated as the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, too. His upturn in popularity could continue with another good contribution in Paarl.
South Africa vs Australia ODI Squads
| South Africa |
Australia |
| Quinton de Kock (captain) |
Aaron Finch (captain) |
| Temba Bavuma |
Pat Cummins |
| Beuran Hendricks |
Ashton Agar |
| Heinrich Klaasen |
Alex Carey |
| Keshav Maharaj |
Josh Hazlewood |
| Janneman Malan |
Marnus Labuschagne |
| David Miller |
Mitchell Marsh |
| Lungi Ngidi |
Kane Richardson |
| Anrich Nortje |
D’Arcy Short |
| Andile Phehlukwayo |
Steven Smith |
| Kagiso Rabada |
Mitchell Starc |
| Tabraiz Shamsi |
Matthew Wade |
| Lutho Sipamla |
David Warner |
| Jon-Jon Smuts |
Adam Zampa |
| Kyle Verreynne |
Jhye Richardson |
South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI – Betting Tips and Prediction
We’ve taken a look at all the best betting opportunities from the 1st ODI in Paarl. Below you’ll find our analysis together with betting tips and predictions for what promises to be an exciting contest to kick off the series. With conditions set fare, there could be some value in backing plenty of runs between these teams.
Marnus Labuschagne to score 100 at 8.50
Labuschagne has enjoyed a prolific rise in Test cricket and recently broke in Australia’s ODI XI with some promising performances in India. He could be the mainstay of their middle order against his country of birth, particularly if afforded a good foundation by Warner at the top of the knock and Smith alongside him. If not Labuschagne, then Matthew Wade at 9.00 to be a centurion could be a popular cricket bet. Wade has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity across all formats and is currently primed for success in ODI cricket.
The best of the bowlers
South Africa have put Maharaj in the ODI squad for good reason. They want his left-arm spin turning away from the right-handers, effectively mimicking what leg-spinner Imran Tahir did before retiring from ODI cricket. Maharaj might walk straight into the XI in Paarl, where he is well positioned to be South Africa’s top bowler in conditions that will likely be conducive to his art. Ashton Agar was successful in the T20Is against the Proteas, especially en route to a five-wicket haul, which included a hat-trick, in Johannesburg. If a spinner can impress on a Wanderers pitch prepared for seam, then more of the same could await on Paarl’s pitch.
Best Bet: ‘Yes’ to any player to score 100 at 1.67 with Betway
February 29, 2020 
11:00 
