South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20 Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 23/02/2020
South Africa were thoroughly outplayed with bat and ball in the first T20I at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where Australia took an early lead in the three-match series. The hosts have a short turn around to improve against a several Australians brimming with confidence on the back participation in the 2019-20 Big Bash League.
Australia were thorough in the first T20I, capitalising on South Africa’s dozen wides with the bat before spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa finished the job with the ball. They will take an unassailable series lead if they win at St George’s Park.
Both teams are preparing for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, for which they are both among the latest odds and free cricket predictions. We’ll keep you abreast of their build-up with the latest cricket betting tips and team news.
South Africa vs Australia 1st T20 – Match Preview
Where: St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
When: Sunday, 23 February
Pitch conditions: This ground has hosted two completed T20Is. The team who won the toss won the match on both occasions. Port Elizabeth hasn’t held a T20I since 2014, though. It was used during the Mzansi Super League in 2019, though, and was conducive to spin.
Weather conditions: A 10 percent chance of rain is predicted for Port Elizabeth on Sunday, but shouldn’t be enough to interrupt the fixture. A high of 21 degrees Celsius is expected.
Start Time: 18:00 (IST), 12:30 (GMT)
South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20 – Latest Odds
South Africa and Australia are priced at 2.50 and 1.53, respectively, by bet365 in the latest odds to win the second T20I in Port Elizabeth. They’ve also got some good batting and bowling markets for the middle match of this three-fixture series.
South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20 – Team News
Heinrich Klaasen injured himself shortly before the start of the first T20I and was replaced by Jon-Jon Smuts, who is expected to retain his position in the XI if Klaasen doesn’t recover in time. Whether Temba Bavuma will return to full fitness after hurting a hamstring remains in the balance.
South Africa might rest Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn or Lungi Ngidi in favour of fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje at his home ground. The Proteas certainly require an improved performance in the field, especially Tabraiz Shamsi.
Australia won’t likely change their winning the combination, keeping David Warner and Aaron Finch at the top of the order while Steven Smith, Matthew Wade and others beef up the middle order. It’s their bowlers, though, that are the chief focus.
Agar and company were outstanding in Johannesburg. His five-for, which included a hat-trick, headlined a bowling performance otherwise complemented by Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson and Pat Cummins. Starc, in particular, will want to dismiss Quinton de Kock early again.
South Africa vs Australia T20 Squads
South Africa | Australia |
Quinton de Kock (captain) | Aaron Finch (captain) |
Temba Bavuma | Sean Abbott |
Faf du Plessis | Ashton Agar |
Rassie van der Dussen | Alex Carey |
David Miller | Pat Cummins |
Pite van Biljon | Mitch Marsh |
Dwaine Pretorius | D’Arcy Short |
Andile Phehlukwayo | Jhye Richardson |
Jon-Jon Smuts | Kane Richardson |
Kagiso Rabada | Steve Smith |
Tabraiz Shamsi | Mitchell Starc |
Lungi Ngidi | Matthew Wade |
Bjorn Fortuin | David Warner |
Anrich Nortje | Adam Zampa |
Dale Steyn | |
Heinrich Klaasen |
South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20 – Betting Tips and Prediction
Individual performances in the first T20I influenced free cricket betting tips for the second match. Here are a couple of the standout cricket predictions.
Quinton de Kock to bounce back in Port Elizabeth
De Kock was in superb form in the preceding T20I series against England and seems to have been empowered, rather than limited, by the addition of the captaincy. He failed in Johannesburg, though, undone by Starc. De Kock was visibly frustrated by South Africa’s showing – and will want to lead by example again at St George’s Park. De Kock is priced at 3.00 to be South Africa’s top batsman in PE.
Ashton Agar to continue being prolific
Agar took a career-best haul at a venue that traditionally hasn’t been good to spinners, and will relish St George’s Park conditions that have historically been good for slow bowlers. His variations in flight and pace worked so well on Friday and, two days later, will come into play again. Agar is offered at 5.00 to be Australia’s top bowler in PE. For longer odds, he’s offered at 21.00 to be Player of the Match.
Best Bet: Australia to hit more sixes than South Africa at 1.80 with bet365