The second T20 International between South Africa and Pakistan takes place at The Wanderers on Monday and Pakistan have a 1-0 series lead with three to play
Pakistan won the recently concluded ODI series 2-1 and then made a winning start to the T20's with a 4 wicket victory at The Wanderers on Saturday.
The Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first in the series opener and they made a decent enough start with Markram and Janneman Malan putting on 31 for the first stick. Markram went on to top score with 51 whilst skipper Heinrich Klaasen made exactly 50 as the Proteas posted 188/6. Mohammad Nawaz with figures of 2/21 was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers.
Mohammad Rizwan got Pakistan off to a good start, sharing a 41 run opening partnership and going on to carry his bat with a knock of 74 off 50 balls. Faheem Ashraf made a quick fire 30 down the order and Pakistan got up with 1 ball and 4 wickets to spare. Beuran Hendricks was top SA bowler with 3/32.
Rizwan was named Man of the Match and the Proteas hit 10 maximums to Pakistan's 4.
We remain in Joburg for this game and this was how the teams lined up for the first T20.
South Africa: Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (c & wk), Pite van Biljon, Wihan Lubbe, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 18 times and South Africa have won 9 and Pakistan have also won 9.
The teams met in Pakistan as recently as February and Pakistan won the series 2-1. All the games were staged in Lahore and Pakistan won the first contest by 3 runs before the Proteas squared things up with a 6 wicket victory. Pakistan came out on top in the decider by a 4 wicket margin.
The Betting, 2nd T20 Match Result
South Africa 5/4
Pakistan 8/13
Aiden Markram is 5/2 favourite to top score for the Proteas and Babar Azam is 15/8 to do likewise for Pakistan.
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict:
The Proteas hit far more sixes than Pakistan on Saturday and whilst who bats first and what sort of chase is required is a factor in that market, my preference is for the home side to clear the ropes more times than Pakistan.
Additional interest comes in the top SA bowler market where Tabraiz Shamsi (2/29 on Saturday) takes the eye at odds of 4/1.
Bets: Most sixes, South Africa at even money.
Top SA Bowler Tabraiz Shamsi 4/1
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