South Africa are in ICC Cricket World Cup semi final action on Thursday, Australia provide the opposition, Kolkata is the venue and the Proteas are the bookmakers slight underdogs
Let's take a look at BoyleSports outright prices to win the tournament. Note these prices may change after Wednesday's semi final clash between India and New
Zealand.
India 0.87/1
Australia 32/10
South Africa 3.85/1
New Zealand 67/10
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
South Africa
South Africa finished the round robin stage in second spot with 7 wins and 2 defeats for 14 points, the same record as Australia but the Proteas boasted a superior net run rate. India topped the log with a 100% record and New Zealand claimed fourth spot with 10 points.
The first of their2 defeats was a surprise when they were turned over by the Netherlands and the Proteas were already assured of a semi final place when they went down to India by a whopping 243 runs at this venue, their only round robin match to be staged in Kolkata.
Those games aside it's been very impressive from the Proteas who beat Australia by 134 runs and Wednesday's semi finalists New Zealand by 190 runs.
South Africa are bidding to make it to a CWC final for the first time.
Squads and Team News
This was how the Proteas lined up last time out when Marco Jansen was rested
Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Did not play: Reeza Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi, Marco Jansen
Australia
After losing their first 2 matches to India and South Africa the Australian's reeled off 7 successive wins to claim a semi final spot. New Zealand are the only nation in the semi finals that Australia have beaten and none of their round robin matches were staged in Kolkata. They cut it fine in a thrilling win against New Zealand and were in huge trouble against Afghanistan before Glenn Maxwell's heroic double ton kept their winning streak going.
In the 2019 CWC Australia were runners up in the round robin with 7 wins and 2 defeats and then lost a semi final to England by all of 8 wickets.
Australia have won the CWC title 5 times, the most recent of which was on home soil in 2015 and they have lost just 1 of 6 finals they contested.
Squads and Team News
This was how Australia lined up last time out when Glann Maxwell was rested.
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Did not play: Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 109 times with Australia winning 50 to South Africa's 55 with 3 ties and 1 no result.
The teams met in Lucknow early in the round robin stage and South Africa won by 134 runs. Quinton de Kock top scored with 109 in a bat first total of 311. Australia lost 3 wickets in their first 10 overs and were eventually bowled out for 177 in the 41st over. Rabada was top wicket taker with 3/33 from 8 overs.
Australia were in South Africa for a 5 match series just prior to this tournament. They started with 2 wins but were well beaten in the next 3 and SA won the series 3-2.
Over the course of the last 5 years South Africa have won 10 and lost 3 of 13 head to heads with Australia.
In CWC 2019 in Manchester South Africa beat Australia by 10 runs.
The Betting
South Africa are currently trading at around 11/10 to win the game and Australia can be backed at around 8/11
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
The Proteas have had the wood over Australia lately and also beat them comfortably in the round robin but Australia built up real momentum after that defeat which came early in the tournament and they will provide formidable opposition.
I think Rabada is a really key man here for the Proteas and gut feel is he can step up to the plate and deliver as top SA bowler.
If the Proteas get into early trouble in their innings or lay a solid platform for the middle order to kick on then Heinrich Klaasen comes into the mix to score a 50.
Bets: Top SA wicket taker Rabada at 3/1 with Sportingbet
To score a 50 Klaasen at 5/2 with Sportingbet
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Discussion Forum
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