South Africa vs England match prediction

With England making a sensational comeback after a loss in the first Test, the onus will be on hosts South Africa to pull one back and make it even stevens in the four-match series. Wanderers has been like a fortress for the Proteas and they sure have an upper hand going into the game. For us, the task is to enjoy the riveting encounter and invest money on the best odds from the market. I have already made a list, just go through my analysis and do the needful. The text is now updated with 3 players bets as well further down.

South Africa has had a better opening stand in last matches

This is a tricky one. England have been handed odds of 1.80 by Bet365 for this market but we think it is a better bet to go the other way. This is not based on feeling but rather pure stats. In this series so far, it is fair to say that England have been the better side so far. They even lead this market in two of the three matches played so far. However, when it comes to the Wanderers South Africa have a history and a proud one at that.

In the last five matches played at the Wanderers, the hosts have managed to outscore their opponents in the opening partnership three times while one of them ended as a tie. Even the last head to head between the two teams saw the South Africans take the crown as far as this market was concerned. While the South Africans scored 44 runs in their first innings, the English could muster just 10 runs in their response. This has been a happy hunting ground for the hosts in the past and the extra value of 0.20 is worth the risk in this case.

Visiting teams averages 6.6 for the opening stand

If the one above was a tricky one, this one is as simple as they come. Wanderers has been a hellhole for teams especially while batting first. South Africa have scored more than 28.5 three times (6, 53, 3, 45, 44) in the last five games here but that came at a time when they could actually bat. As of right now, Dean Elgar is bang out of form and Pieter Malan is new to Test cricket.

The last five games for the opposition are just horrendous because of one man - Vernon Philander. The Proteas legend, who will be playing his final game for South Africa there, will want to leave on a high and not destroy his scarcely believable average of 15.69 at the venue. In the last five games, the visitors have averaged a mere 6.6 runs (6, 10, 7, 0, 10) in the first innings in Johannesburg. These are the kinds of bets that are easy to make and ones that punters live for so book this one as soon as possible.

Few centuries by South Africa in first innings

In the last five matches played at the Wanderers, only two matches have seen South Africans score centuries in the first innings. However, none of the trio (Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, and JP Duminy) are now a part of the team despite quite a few of the same players being in the set up again. In the ongoing series, it has been worse as no batsman has managed to cross the triple figure mark in six attempts.

With the kind of spicy wicket that is expected in Johannesburg, it would be very difficult for that stat to change anytime soon. The bookmakers have been quite generous in my estimation on the 1.72 odds that have been offered on this market as it feels more like a 1.45 kind of bet. But that is what we live for. Finding and identifying the best bets in the market for punters like us so that we can have a field day, even if the South Africans don’t!

Dean Elgar averages 41.75 in the first innings

Albeit you are not surprised that I have summoned South Africa’s most successful batsman in the past couple of years to top score in the first innings. And with odds of 4.50 on offer, this is a risk worth taking.

In the last five matches, Elgar’s has scored 194 runs at an average of 38.8 and is also the second highest run scorer for the Proteas in the ongoing series. Having played a total of 11 matches against England so far, the southpaw has managed to rack and total of 769 runs (the most against any team) at an average of 38.45 which includes 2 centuries and three fifties.

Elgar has played 6 matches at the Wanderers, scored 315 runs with two fifties to his name. Interestingly, the batsman has been at his best when playing in the first team innings. Overall, he has played 61 times in the first innings and scored 2422 runs at an average of 41.75. There’s no other option but to invest in this bet.

Experienced Philander will chase English Batsmen

Let’s just enjoy Vernon Philander’s last Test match! What an incredible career it has been for the all-rounder! With the match being played at the Wanderers, it’s needless to say he is going to haunt the English batsmen for one last time in this series.

Vernon Philander has excellent figures against the Englishmen, having played 9 matches and taken 28 wickets at an average of 24.28. Meanwhile, in 63 innings he bowled in the first innings, the fast bowler has scalped 136 wickets which is far better when compared to his figures in the first innings.

His tryst with the ‘bullring’ has been a far glorifying tale indeed, having played 7 matches at the venue and taking 39 wickets at an average of 15.69, which is incredible. His best bowling figures of 6 for 21 was also at this venue and not long ago. He is fresh from his exploits at the venue and is aware of the pitch in and out, so it is more than advisable to invest money on this lucrative bet.

Dom Sibley averages 59 in the ongoing series

England is fortunate to have such a calm and composed opener like Sibley in their ranks and his recent form suggests that he is going to earn us some good money in the upcoming Test match.

The talented right handed batsman has been on song in the ongoing series, having scored 236 runs at an average of 44.16 with a top score of 133. Even in two other innings, he managed to score 34 and 36, which means he has got starts but failed short to capitalise. Having already shown his mettle at the top of the order, he is likely to pass the 50-run mark at least once in the upcoming match. With players like Joe Root finding it hard to pile up big scores, it is advantage Sibley and also for us to double up our investments.