Cricket Betting: Australia vs South Africa T20 Game 2 Preview
A buoyant South Africa will look to close out the series, while a hesitant Australia will seek more answers, as the T20 series moves to Game 2 at Johannesburg on Sunday March 6.
The first match had all the usual ingredients of a South Africa vs Australia encounter with pendulum swinging rapidly many times and both sides showing inability to close out the match.
For the hosts, Faf du Plessis was brilliant at the top while David Miller showed his calm head in closing out the match. His experience in IPL makes him an ideal bet to tackle spin while AB de Villiers will look to get into some form ahead of the World Cup.
Imran Tahir bowled as we predicted and strangled the visitors who had no clue to his variations. Although the series is a prelude to the World Cup, the Proteas would love to keep their favourite opponents firmly on the mat. Dale Steyn sat out of the first match but could come in for the second. Can he quickly get into the groove?
Australia were on top for most part of the first match but came up second best at crucial junctures. Their troubles against spin reared its ugly head again as they lost the plot against Tahir. Steve Smith has already indicated that he would give a game to everyone in the squad meaning there will be space for Shane Watson for the second match.
The fast bowlers couldn’t contain the aggression of Miller with Andrew Tye in particular facing the brunt of his attack. Nathan Coulter-Nile was a pleasant surprise and so is the form of Mitchell Marsh and Adam Zampa. But the crucial question for Smith and co is to find the right balanced XI.
Australia are yet to find the key to their hopes in this format and it is showing in their recent results. The onus is on the upcoming World Cup but they would hate to enter that tournament with another whitewash. Can Smith guide his team out of this rut?
The odds are stacked against them but don’t count them out yet. We recommend backing Australia to win Game 2 at odds of $2.07 at Sportsbet, and there even looks value on Australia to turn around and win the series at odds of $3.92 at Sportsbet.
David Warner is vital for Smith’s plans in the sub-continent with his quick runs at the top. Back him to be the visitors’ top scorer at $4.50 at Sportsbet. For the hosts, De Villiers should be hungry to get some runs in his basket after a first-ball duck, so back him to be their top scorer at $3.50 at Sportsbet.
Can South Africa deliver a knock-out punch to the Kangaroos or will the Aussies find their will to win key moments? Sunday will be the judge!
