Lucknow is the venue for the fourth T20 between India and South Africa, the game takes place on Wednesday and in terms of the series India now lead 2-1 with two to play.
The Proteas won both matches in the two game test series which kicked off this tour, coming out on top by margins of 30 runs and 408 runs. Thereafter a 3 match ODI series went to a decider on and India clinched it, 2-1.
The first of the five T20’s was staged at Cuttack and India came out on top by all of 101 runs, posting 175/6 and bowling the Proteas out for just 74. However it was a different story at Mullanpur on Thursday when the Proteas squared the series with a 51 run victory.
India regained the series lead on Sunday with a 7 wicket victory at Dharamsala. The hosts won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first and the Proteas lost both openers with just a single run on the board. Markram with 61 threatened a recovery but he had no support with Ferreira’s 20 the next highest score and the Proteas were all out for just 117 in the full 20 overs. Four India bowlers all took 2 wickets and South Africa hit 4 sixes.
India put on 60 for their first wicket and the outcome was evident from their onwards. Abhishek Sharma top scored with 35 including 3 of his sides 4 maximums and the chase was complete in 15.5 overs for the loss of 3 wickets. Arshdeep Singh was named the MoM.
This was how the teams lined up last time out.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 34 times in this format with India winning 20 to South Africa’s 13 with 1 no result
The Betting
At the time of writing India are 7/20 to win and South Africa are 22/10 with Pokerbet
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
The Proteas are up against it after a heavy defeat in the third contest. Conditions for batting and bowling in this series have been hard to predict pre-match but a couple off reports I read suggested dew could be a factor later on.
Anrich Nortje should be up to full fitness by now and he could still be the Proteas most potent bowling weapon which brings his price boost to be top SA wicket taker onto the radar. As far as the Indian top run scorer markets are concerned I'll side with Suryakumar Yadav to find some runs.
Bets: Top India Run Scorer Suryakumar Yadav at 7/2 with Sportingbet
Top SA Wicket Taker Anrich Nortje, price boosted to 4/1 at Sportingbet
Prices subject to change