South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st Test – 26/12/2020

SA v Sri Lanka 1st Test – Cricket Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News, Predictions – 26/12/2020

South Africa and Sri Lanka will return to Test cricket after several months without it. This is the first match of a two-Test series.

Read our free cricket betting tips for today’s match. Our experts also give you advice about online cricket betting in Indian rupees.

South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st Test – Match Preview

South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka 14 times and lost to them on nine occasions in Test cricket. They have shared six draws.

Sri Lanka have a particularly good knack for beating the Proteas in South Africa. They did so twice last year, in Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Where: SuperSport Park, Centurion

When: Saturday, 26 December 2020

Start time: 13:30 IST (08:00 GMT)

Pitch conditions: South Africa have won nine of their last 10 Tests at SuperSport Park. The home national team have beaten Sri Lanka four times – twice by an innings – here. The pitch is in the highveld, so it’s traditionally hard and dry. The captain to win the toss will likely choose to bat first.

Weather conditions: There has been plenty of rain in Centurion recently, with near flooding. But this will likely clear to some extent in time for the match. Rain is predicted throughout the five days, but not as much as during the week prior to the match.

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South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st Test – Latest Odds

Parimatch are among the best betting sites in India. We love how early they price their markets and the margin on offer.

For this series opener, they have South Africa 1.16 favourites and Sri Lanka 4.8 underdogs.

Given Sri Lanka’s track record in South Africa, albeit not in Centurion, this could be a good time to bet on them.

South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st Test – Team News

South Africa had already been limited by the absence of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. But they have since been further hampered by the withdrawal of Keegan Petersen and Beuran Hendricks.

The squad has several players uncapped at Test level, including Kyle Verreynne, Lutho Sipamla, Raynard van Tonder and Migael Pretorius.

Experienced heads like Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock will need to steer the batting. The bowling is looking thin, with Pretorius and Sipamla likely to debut.

Sri Lanka have to do without Angelo Mathews, who is sidelined by injury. His batting and experience as a former captain will be missed.

Wanindu Hasaranga has broken into the Test squad after solid performances in ODI and T20I cricket – and the recently Lanka Premier League. The leg-spinner could be key against South Africa’s right-handers.

A lot will be expected of Dimuth Karanaratne and Dinesh Chandimal with the bat, while Suranga Lakmal is vital to Sri Lanka’s ambition with the ball.

South Africa v Sri Lanka – Squads

South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st Test – Betting Tips and Prediction

Here are more free cricket betting tips to help you make informed decisions. These predictions from our experts are based on generous odds and the form of the players.

Make Markram Your Top Batsman for South Africa

Aiden Markram will probably open the batting with Dean Elgar or slot into a middle order that requires some experience.

He has under-performed at international level, but recent form in domestic cricket pledges better. Markram, at his home ground, is a solid price at 4.0 with Funbet to be the top SA batsman in the first innings.

Have Hasaranga as Your Top Bowler for Sri Lanka

Coach Mickey Arthur has stated good form in the Lanka Premier League isn’t necessarily solid preparation for this Test series. Regardless, Wanindu Hasaranga is shaping up well.

South Africa struggle against spin, even when away from the sub-continent. With Hasaranga turning the ball away from the right-handers on a pitch expected to provide extra bounce, he could be a handful.

Bet on him to be the top Sri Lanka bowler in the first innings at 5.0 with 1xBet.

Choose Karunaratne to Hit a Century

22Bet should grow their markets as the series progress, with some popular accumulator outcomes expected. For now, their market on Karunaratne to hit a century at 8.5 looks promising.

He is exactly the type of stubborn opening batsman required to succeed in conditions in Centurion. He’ll need to successfully ride the opening throes before capitalising later.

Read our round-up of the best and free cricket betting tips for this match before the first ball is bowled.