Cricket Betting: South Africa vs Australia T20 Game 3 Preview
And the old rivals live up to the billing! South Africa and Australia have shown why their rivalry is one of the most watched in international cricket with Australia levelling the three-match series with a thrilling last-ball victory. With the series on the line, the third and final T20 in Cape Town on Wednesday March 9th promises to be more of the same.
The series was billed as merely a lead-up to the T20 World Cup but both teams resisted conceding even an inch to the opposition. If it was David Miller who took the Proteas to victory in the first match, it was David Warner and Glenn Maxwell’s stand that took Aussies past the post in the second. Will the third match throw up another hero?
South Africa will be buoyed by the return of Dale Steyn who showed how good a bowler he can be in any format. Will they give him one more practice match or will they cocoon him for the grand tournament in India? Kagiso Rabada is enjoying the limelight and why not – he’s probably one of the best young fast bowlers in the world right now.
The hosts’ batting revolved around Faf du Plessis in both the matches. The destruction of AB de Villiers is conspicuous by its absence as are the runs from JP Duminy. The latter especially, is under pressure to perform with question marks on his place in the final XI.
There are equally as many question marks for Australia who are using this tournament to check multiple boxes. Warner in the middle order has been a blessing in disguise, with the new-found calmness of the otherwise maverick guiding the Aussies in the middle overs.
The presence of James Faulkner in the final XI gives great balance to Steve Smith who is otherwise struggling to get control from his regular bowlers. The revolving chair between Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar could continue while Nathan Coulter-Nile could get another game.
South Africa are $1.81 favourites at Sportsbet, but there might be more value in the price of $2.00 at Sportsbet for Australia to snatch the series win.
Miller and Warner proved that there is a method to madness even in the shortest format. Du Plessis looks good to continue his form and don’t be surprised if he South Africa’s best batsman at odds of $4.33 at Sportsbet. At the same time, it could be Warner once again for Australia at the generous odds of $5.00 at Sportsbet. However, if Usman Khawaja is playing, then he looks a good price to find some form at $4.33 at Sportsbet for Australia’s best.
On a day when the T20 World Cup officially kicks-off with qualifying matches in India, it will be South Africa and Australia looking to end their series on a high and book confidence as extra luggage to the sub-continent.
