Australia kick off their tour of South Africa in style as they face off against the Proteas this Friday evening at Centurion.
Both teams arrived confidently, each securing dominant victories over Ireland ahead of what promises to be an intense and much-anticipated ODI series.
However, key players are missing on both sides: the Proteas will miss AB de Villiers and Chris Morris, while Australia will be without their pace stars Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and James Faulkner, with Pat Cummins and James Pattinson also sidelined due to injuries. The stage is set for a thrilling contest! Here’s a closer look at the first game:
South Africa vs Australia | Friday 30 September | Centurion | 15:00 SAST
Match Winner Odds
South Africa 8/10 | Tie 35/1 | Australia 1/1
South Africa
The latest from the South African camp is unfortunate news regarding AB de Villiers who requires surgery for an elbow injury. This is a significant blow, potentially ruling him out for 8 to 10 weeks, possibly impacting the upcoming tour of Australia.
Apart from this setback, the team remains robust. The opening partnership of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock is looking sturdy. De Kock dazzled with an 82 off 66 balls in the recent win over Ireland, while Amla is fresh and ready to exploit Australia’s depleted pace attack, boasting a fantastic average of 69.20 at SuperSport Park.
JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien have also proven their worth with half-centuries in the warm-up matches. Though fans may be disappointed Temba Bavuma was left out, the bowling looks formidable with Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada leading a potent attack supplemented by Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, and Andile Phehlukwayo.
Australia
Australia head into the series severely affected by injuries. The bowling department looks thin, with John Hastings and Scott Boland likely to lead the attack against a fierce South African batting line-up.
However, their batting remains strong with Usman Khawaja and David Warner ready to set the tone, supported by experienced players like Steve Smith, George Bailey, and Travis Head in the middle order. The Aussies must perform well with the bat to compensate for their weaker bowling.
Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner, might be the key bowler for Australia, having had an impressive breakthrough year, claiming 25 wickets in 13 ODIs at an average of 22 and economy of 4.8. If the pitch offers some turn, he could be a major threat.
Though the Aussies showed promise in their match against Ireland, their depleted pace attack is a concern, and without stars like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, winning the first ODI looks a steep challenge.
Prediction: South Africa to clinch victory at 8/10
Though evenly matched on paper at full strength, Australia’s current bowling woes give South Africa the edge. Back the Proteas confidently for the win.
Value Bet: Quinton de Kock to top score for SA at 7/2
De Kock’s superb record at SuperSport Park makes him a tempting pick to top score against Australia’s weakened bowling attack. Place a small wager on this exciting prospect this Friday!
Article by Jason Dewey for @Hollywoodbets.
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