Tag: South Africa

South Africa out for Eden Park Revenge in One-off T20

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The last time the South Africans played at Eden Park they were left heartbroken. A final over loss to New Zealand in the semi-final of the World Cup meant once again they wouldn’t have the opportunity to atone for World Cup pain of the past.

The enduring image of that match is of Grant Elliot picking Dale Steyn up off the floor after hitting him for six over deep midwicket to win the match. And while similar drama is unlikely in a one-off Twenty20 international on Friday, there will be a desire amongst a weakened South African side to forge new images of Eden Park, that will be remembered longer than those from 2015.

The Last Time These Two Met

The teams last played a Twenty20 series in 2015. Hosted in South Africa the series was split one each, with the home side taking the lead by easily chasing 152 in Durban before New Zealand squared things up at Centurion by defending 177.

In total, South Africa have won 10 of the 14 Twenty20 internationals between the sides. That makes them attractively priced for this one-off game despite (or because of) their series loss to Sri Lanka at home recently in the same format.

The Teams

South Africa (from):

AB de Villiers (capt), Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa will be disappointed to be without rising quick Lungi Ngidi for the one-off game and the ODI series. His loss will be felt by a side missing most of it’s known seamers (the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Abbott and Philander). Dane Paterson will travel with the side as cover for Ngidi and Dwaine Pretorius whose wife is due to give birth.

New Zealand (from):

Kane Williamson (capt), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Glenn Phillips, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ben Wheeler

New Zealand often uses the T20 format to blow youngsters as shown by the continued inclusion of Tom Bruce and Ben Wheeler in the squad, and the drafting of Aucklander Glenn Phillips into the side to replace the injured Martin Guptill.

The Key Players

South Africa

David Miller doesn’t have the strongest record in the short format (unless you consider IPL form too); admittedly because he doesn’t get much of a chance to flex his muscle until very late in the innings. However, the powerful left-hander is a huge threat. Coming off an ODI hundred against Sri Lanka in his last innings (and a brief injury that forced him to miss the last three games of that series), Miller could go huge at Eden Park.

New Zealand

Before his late withdrawal, Martin Guptill was going to be heavily featured in this spot. Guptill averages 53 in T20 internationals against South Africa and has more runs than any other player from either nation in matches between the two. His average at Eden Park in the format is also over 50.

Alas, he’s not playing, so let’s highlight his replacement, Glenn Phillips. The twenty-year-old led the run scoring in New Zealand’s T20 competition with 369 and registered the highest score with 116*. The diminutive keeper batsman is an aggressive ball striker and might be comfortable at his Auckland home.

The Match Odds

South Africa– $1.78 at Palmerbet.

New Zealand – $2.10 at Bet365.

The Prediction

The evenly matched sides with their unique mix of experience and youth are difficult to separate. However, with an overall winning record against the Black Caps in the format of 71% it’s awfully hard to predict anything other than a South African win. That’s despite New Zealand’s incredible form in all formats at home this summer (albeit against Pakistan and Bangladesh).

The Best Bets

Guptill’s record against South Africa and at Friday’s venue are compelling. He’s at $3.75 to top score, which looks like one of the better options available.

For the South Africans, the normal list of superstars, de Villiers, Amla and de Kock are all priced lower than former T20 and current test captain Faf du Plessis, meaning there is some value in Faf at $5. Why? Batting at number 3 gives him plenty of overs at the crease and he’s coming off 185 in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka.

Rebuilding Starts as Australia Look to Avoid Whitewash

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There’s plenty of intrigue in game three of the Australian / South African cricket series. There’s pink balls, selection overhauls, argy-bargy in airports and ball tampering. Whatever happens, game three in Adelaide is sure to include some drama and some great betting opportunities.

Check out our thoughts on the day-night test:

The Last Time These Two Met

The second test in Hobart was an unmitigated disaster for the Australians. Collapses in both innings and the lowest number of balls faced in a home test match since 1928, meant a heavy defeat by an innings and 80 runs. Australia made just 85 in the first dig and 161 in the second (from a position of 2/129); struggling in the face of quality seam bowling by Abbott, Rabada and Philander.

The loss has been the catalyst for a significant overhaul in election policies and personnel. Gone is former chief selector Rod Marsh, replaced by Trevor Hohns, and sweeping changes have been made to the squad (more below). The unsettling changes could mean Australia are facing the very real threat of a series whitewash, which could mean they’re favourites as they look to blood fresh players that are unscathed from the previous two results.

The Teams

Australia (likely):

1 David Warner, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steve Smith (capt), 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Nic Maddinson, 7 Matthew Wade, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jackson Bird.

Australia has made a host of changes to the team that lost in Hobart. Out goes Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Peter Nevill, Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson. In for their debuts are Renshaw, Handscomb and Maddinson. The selections are a significant shift in the Australian selectors thinking. Replacing older players with players of the future hasn’t always been their way (think Hussey, North, Voges and Rogers for players who made their debuts at late stages in their careers).

South Africa (likely):

1 Stephen Cook, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 JP Duminy, 5 Faf du Plessis (capt), 6 Temba Bavuma, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 KA Maharaj 10 Kyle Abbott, 11 Kagiso Rabada.

No changes expected for the South Africans after Far du Plessis was fined for ball tampering but not suspended.

The Key Players

Australia

David Warner – The left-hander has been the biggest disappointment in the series thus far. As always, he’s looking a million dollars every time he bats, but, he just can’t seem to go on with it and get the huge 170 that Australia is desperately seeking. As an important member of the senior leadership team, he needs to convert starts (aside from the 1 he scored in the first innings of game two, he’s had a start each time) into long innings and platforms for his middle order.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock – In the mould of Adam Gilchrist, de Kock has had a huge influence on this series. Scores of 64, 84, 104 not only display some beautiful symmetry and code but also evidence a batsman in exceptional form. If he can continue his free-scoring fun, even against the pink ball, South Africa will be well on the way to achieving the 3-0.

The Match Odds

Australia – $2.60 at Ladbrokes.

South Africa – $2.10 at Bet365.

Draw – $6.40 at Betfair.

The Prediction

The great leveller in game three is the pink ball. Notoriously difficult to see, prone to swinging and just a little unusual (just ask Matthew Wade, the colour blind keeper has admitted to having some issues seeing the ball); the pink ball and lights could even up the contest. It appears bookies are thinking the same way with less separating the teams than the first two tests would indicate.

We actually like Australia to win this one. They have more experience against the pink ball, and we’ve seen too many unlikely wins on the back of coach and player changes to tempt a nice turnaround script.

The Best Bets

There’s been plenty of money on Usman Khawaja ($4.70) and Matt Renshaw ($6) to be Australia’s top batsman. However, depending on when the top order face-off against the new ball, the top three might not be the safe option. What about Nic Maddinson at $7.60 instead.

On the bowling side of things, why not consider Vernon Philander to take wickets and thus be named man of the match ($13). If any bowler in world cricket can exploit a wobbling ball and favourable atmospheric conditions, it’s Philander.

Cricket World Cup: NZ v South Africa – SF 1 Review

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Grant Elliot held his nerve on the penultimate ball to swat Dale Steyn over the long on boundary, sending a 45,000 strong Eden Park into a frenzy, and New Zealand to the World Cup final.  South African born Elliot played the innings of his life to help New Zealand find 29 from the final 17 balls and 12 from the final over in a pulsating finish the World Cup richly deserved.

After four one-sided quarterfinals the tournament was screaming out for a close and memorable encounter.  Auckland duly delivered with a day’s play that constantly saw momentum ebb and flow, as two teams desperate to book their first ever World Cup final appearance traded blows under intense duress.

New Zealand fired the first shot; Trent Boult matching his deadly late swing with unparalleled accuracy, at one stage bowling to a 7-2 offside field with five slips, and taking two early wickets.  Hashim Amla chopped on when he through the hands loosely at a widish drivable length, and when Quinton de Kock gave his wicket away after surviving an earlier storm for 14, South Africa were reeling at 31/2.

While the electric Eden Park crowd bayed for more blood, Faf du Plessis personified the fight and heart of his South African side with a brilliantly composed 82.  He withstood the early pressure along with Rilee Rossouw to help build an AB de Villers shaped platform from which the aggressive captain could launch from.

Launch they did too as the 10 overs between 30 and 40 brought 110 runs.  The de Villiers led impetus had South Africa perfectly set-up to press on to 350+ before a one and a half hour rain delay curtailed the possibility.  The rain delay reduced the contest to 43 hours and meant South Africa had just five more overs to add to their total.  The post break hero for South Africa was David Miller who thrashed 49 from just 18 balls to set up the daunting total.  Remarkably, de Villiers faced just 7 balls in the final five overs.

Duckworth-Lewis entered the fray at the innings break and adjusted New Zealand’s target t0 298.  In the process, asking the Black Caps to successfully complete the largest run chase in World Cup knockout history.  History looked entirely plausible when Brendon McCullum launched a familiar attack in the first five overs.  He dispatched everything that came his way, including reducing some of the World’s best fast bowlers to club cricket cannon fodder.  McCullum’s 26-ball 59 was crucial to his side’s chances and set the perfect tone for the stiff target as well as denting the confidence of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander – confidence that did not return when they both needed it in the crunch overs.

Despite the fall of McCullum, and a collection of others through the middle overs, Grant Elliot remained calm, found support from Corey Anderson and expertly controlled the asking rate under unimaginable stress.  Elliot and Anderson’s 103 run partnership was the determinative contribution of the innings.  The pair survived multiple run out chances, and dropped catch collisions to put together their match-winning effort.  It shouldn’t go down as a choke, as South Africa left everything out on the park, but there were some interesting options taken by the eventual losers.

In particular, JP Duminy’s early introduction and subsequent choice to bowl round the wicket was head scratching.  He can bowl better, as the quarterfinal hat-trick outline, but he picked a poor day to bowl some of his worst stuff.  That forced de Villiers himself to make up some of the overs, and he did an okay job until trying a bouncer every over that resulted in boundaries.  Rossouw’s decision to throw the ball flat and hard while trying to run out Corey Anderson will be questioned as will Steyn’s final delivery length option.

New Zealand’s win did get a little closer than perhaps it should have.  Tight Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel overs asked the South African faithful to believe, but with ten needed from four balls, Daniel Vettori squeezed and important boundary and then Elliot connected perfectly to book New Zealand a spot in Melbourne’s tournament decider.

Dream big New Zealand.

New Zealand 299 for 6 in 42.5 overs (Elliott 84*, McCullum 59, Anderson 58, Morkel 3-59) beat South Africa 281 for 5 in 43 overs (Du Plessis 82, De Villiers 65*, Miller 49) by 4 wickets (D/L method)

Cricket World Cup: NZ v South Africa – SF 1 Preview

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[Tweet “Cricket World Cup Madness!”]As predicted, the four best teams in the Cricket World Cup have made it through to the semi-finals, and for the two of them competing in the tournament’s first semi-final, it could mean a first ever World Cup final.

New Zealand and South Africa head to a wet Eden Park in a bid to book a place in Melbourne’s World Cup showpiece against either Australia or India.  They’ll have a bleak day of unpredictable weather to contend with, as well as the significant expectation of success that both countries have placed on their players.  For New Zealand, that pressure has come about through a wealth of good form and an attractive brand of cricket.  The Black Caps have lost once in their last 13 matches and are riding a public wave of admiration only ever seen before at the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

South Africa on the other hand have always had that expectation.  They have simply never delivered.  So much so, that their World Cups are more synonymous with choking than they are with success.  They may have turned around their knockout fortune with an imperious win over Sri Lanka, but doubts will remain about their mettle if this one gets close.

Questions will also be asked of New Zealand’s fifth bowling option.  Corey Anderson and Grant Elliot are expected to perform the role with little tournament experience, while some might point to Ross Taylor’s strike rate and running between the wickets as trouble zones too.

Either way, the cauldron of Eden Park will get that much hotter in the final quarter of the game as pressure and expectation weigh heavily on the players minds.

The Last Time These Two Met

In a full series in early October (the earliest cricket has ever been played in a New Zealand summer), South Africa comfortably got the better of an experimental New Zealand side (Jimmy Neesham was opening).  They won the series 2-0 and were tracking well in the washed out Hamilton finale.  The teams have met once since then in a World Cup warm up match in Christchurch.  The Black Caps were at their devastating best in that match piling on 331 and bowling their opponents

The Teams

New Zealand (likely): 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Gupill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Matt Henry

Adam Milne has been withdrawn from the World Cup because of a heel injury.  The ICC have okayed Matt Henry as a replacement and he is expected to make a shock first appearance in a straight replacement.

South Africa (likely): 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 Rilee Rossouw, 6 David Miller, 7 JP Duminy, 8 Dale Steyn, 9 Vernon Philander/Kyle Abbott, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir

AB de Villiers has confirmed his entire squad is fit and available.  That means the selectors must only ponder over the third seam option.  Vernon Philander adds more with the bat (he was the second highest South African scorer in the World Cup warm up match between the two sides), whereas Kyle Abbot’s aggressiveness helped create the early pressure that Sri Lanka found it impossible to come back from.

The Key Players

Daniel Vettori – Eden Park is not an easy place for spin bowlers.  The two tiny straight boundaries are only an enticing strike away for most World Class batsman.  But as he proved against Australia earlier in the tournament, Vettori has the guile to do well at Kingsland’s concrete jungle.  In that game he successfully stalled the charge of David Warner and Shane Watson and essentially turned the game in New Zealand’s favour.  The challenge will be to do it again against AB de Villiers and co.

Hashim Amla – Just as Vettori likes Eden Park, Amla likes playing New Zealand in New Zealand.  In six games against the Black Caps on their own turf the elegant right-hander has managed 345 runs at 57.50.  He’s also had a relative quiet World Cup, save for his 159 versus Ireland, so he’s well and truly due to bag big runs.  His technique is arguably the best in his team’s lineup to counteract swing too; he plays the ball so late and can manoeuvre it anywhere with his freakishly supple wrists.  His role will be to ensure South Africa don’t lose early wickets and retain them for a late onslaught.

The Match Odds*

New Zealand – $2.00

South Africa – $1.82

*Courtesy of Ladbrokes Australia.

The Prediction

Before the tournament, we would have given this match to South Africa comfortably.  However, so good is New Zealand’s form it makes it awfully hard to bet against them.  When one player fails, another will stand up, and to man, the team believes.  That said, the 11 South African players are marginally better than the 11 Black Caps, and that will be decisive.  South Africa to get home by 2 wickets or 25 runs.

The Best Bets

Guptill answered his critics, why can’t Taylor do so as well.  Ross Taylor to Top Score @ $6.00

Guptil likes an over or so to get going.  Back South Africa to Have Highest Score After Over 1 @ $2.25

AB de Villers Top Batsman / Dale Steyn Top Bowler Comb0 @ $16.00

Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka v South Africa – QF 1 Recap

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South Africa managed to shake the most unlikeliest monkey off their backs by finally winning a knockout game at a Cricket World Cup and in the process resigning two off the modern greats to an early plane ride home.

The word choke was used on more than a few occasion in the lead up to the first Cricket World Cup quarterfinal of 2015, and it could have been used afterwards too, just not in the manner that many predicted.  The Heimlich manoeuvre was needed, but on the Sri Lanka batsman not the South African team, after Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbot, Morne Morkel, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir choked the life out of the Sri Lankan batsman and restricted them to just 134.  Bowled out in the 38th over; a total that was never going to be enough, and ultimately costing Sri Lanka their place in the tournament as Quinton de Kock rediscovered some form to see South Africa home by 9 wickets.

The loss is a sad way to farewell two exceptionally gifted cricketers and gentlemen of the game.  Kumar Sangakkar and Mahela Jayawardene played their final international matches in the defeat, leaving an enduring legacy on Sri Lankan and world cricket.  A partnership of two more elegant batsman will never be seen in the game.

Unfortunately the Sydney crowd, made up of predominantly Sri Lankan fans, didn’t see any partnerships of note, let alone one from their departing idols.  Kyle Abbot struck in the first over and South Africa didn’t look back.  Abbot removed the experimental opener, Kusal Perera – who bizarrely replaced Lahiru Thirimanne the incumbent opener who had made 261 runs in the top of the order in the tournament already – and when Steyn got Dilshan in the fifth over the writing was on the wall.

Sangakkara couldn’t find his record-creaking lead up form, instead scratching around for 6 off 42 balls at one stage in the face of accurate bowling from all of the South African bowlers.  The pressure told on all.  Thirimanne looked the best of the batsman and threatened to help Sangakkara out of his deep hole, but when he became the first of seven wickets to fall to spin the wheels came off and Sri Lanka were bowled out for the second lowest quarterfinal total in World Cup history.  Sangakkara was ninth man out for 45, taking his World Cup total to 541.

South Africa commenced the chase prior to the Dinner break.  They lost a wicket in that time, Amla falling to Malinga, but also ticked off 40 of the required runs.  Post break, de Kock dismantled the short pitched bowling plan and played himself into some much needed form.  He ended on 78* and justified the decision by the selectors to preserve with him at the top of the order (he had earlier taken two good catches with the gloves too).

The confidence of AB de Villers in the news conferences prior to the match was infectious and his public support of his beleaguered keeper-batsman has obviously done wonders for the individual and the team.  They have sent a real statement of intent to their fellow semifinalists, all of whom have much easier games to make it there.

South Africa 134 for 1 (de Kock 78*) beat Sri Lanka 133 (Sangakkara 45, Tahir 4-26, Duminy 3-29) by 9 wickets

Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka v South Africa – QF 1 Preview

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The first quarterfinal of the Cricket World Cup is also likely to be the most competitive.  After four gruelling weeks (said with a hint of sarcasm in the direction of the teams that had eight days between games) eight quarterfinalists have been found to vie for the most coveted trophy in international cricket.

The first of those quarterfinals is played today in Sydney, featuring the runners up of the past two tournaments against a team that has never won a knockout match at a Cricket World Cup.

South Africa’s stumbling record is so underwhelming that its nigh on impossible to consider they won’t remedy it this time around.  They have posted 400 twice in the tournament, they have the best batsman in the world and a fearsome new ball bowling attack.

Sri Lanka on the other hand, thrive in knockout matches (barring finals perhaps), and have over 1100 ODI matches between just three of their players (Mahela, Kumar and Dilshan).  That is a strength, but it’s also a weakness as they often rely too heavily on those three names.  To book a semifinal date with New Zealand / West Indies they’ll need to extract performances out of Malinga, Matthews and Thirimanne, all who have at times played significant roles in this World Cup.

It should be an absolute cracker.

The Last Time These Two Met

Of the last six matches the two team have played (dating back to July 2013) the teams have won three games apiece.  Interestingly, none of the most recent matches have been close.  Each win has been by over 56 runs (with an average winning margin of 85.6 runs) or by more 8 wickets or more.  The most recent ODI – in July 2014 – resulted in South Africa winning by 82 runs in Hambantota.

Both teams lost twice during the Pool stage of this year’s tournament.

The Teams

South Africa (likely): 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Rilee Russouw/ Farhaan Behardien, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Imran Tahir

South Africa only have one selection decision to ponder.  It could have been two given Quinton de Kock’s horrific form, but AB de Villiers looks reluctant to keep and has thrown his weight behind the youngster.  That leaves a number seven decision between Rilee Rossouw, who has contributed nicely in the tournament thus far, and Farhaan Behardien.  Behardien’s ability to send down some overs might be enough to get him in (he also smoked it against the UAE in their last Pool game).

Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Lahiru Thirimanne, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Kusal Perera, 6 Angelo Mathews (capt), 7 Thisara Perara, 8 Seekkuge Prasanna/ Rangana Herath, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Suranga Lakmal/ Dushmantha Chameera

Sri Lanka has arguably had the most injury issues to contend with of the major tournament contenders.  Injury concerns remain over Herath in the only possible change to a settled side from the team that beat Scotland.  If Herath’s finger is no good, Seekkuge Prasanna will play (and face a heap of pressure).

The Key Players

Kumar Sangakkara – The tournament’s leading runscorer is in the type of batting nirvana that batsman very rarely visit.  Least of all at the age of 37.  Sanga has already set the record for the most consecutive ODI hundreds during the tournament, peeling off four in a row after failing against Afghanistan.  He’s scored them gracefully too, demonstrating textbook cricket shots still belong in the era of reverse paddles and scoops.  He’s obviously the vital cog in the batting order along with Tilakaratne Dilshan, and South Africa will be on their way to the semis if they can remove him early.

AB de Villiers – The third top run scorer of the tournament is also his side’s key player.  Throughout the tournament de Villiers has shouldered the hopes of a nation, and responded positively, confidently when probed about their form or ability to win the tournament.  It’s the type of belief that makes hime such a dangerous batsman.  His ability to score runs quickly is a frightening prospect for the Sri Lankan bowlers who have wilted in the face of such attacks from Maxwell and McCullum recently.  AB just needs a little help from his mates.

The Match Odds*

South Africa – $1.45

Sri Lanka – $2.75

*Courtesy of Ladbrokes Australia.

The Prediction

The biggest question mark hanging over this game is the dreaded c-word.  Not choke, but chase.  South Africa have not won a game at this World Cup when they have been asked to chase a target.  That of course leads to allegations of choking but the chasing is the bigger mental block at the moment.

Nonetheless, we’re backing the South Africans to display some better c-words today.  Class, composure, confidence to name but a few, and to win the game by 40 runs or 4 wickets.

The Best Bets

Quinton de Kock is an obvious roughie to Top Score at $5.50, but his 53 tournament runs at 8.83 may put you off.

The Hashim Amla (Top Runs) / Morne Morkel (Top Wickets) double looks like great money at $16.00

Finally, a quick double up is on offer if a Sri Lankan batsman top scores in the game.  That is at $2.20.