South Africa vs England 2nd Test day 1 match prediction

After a disappointing loss to South Africa in the first Test, Joe Root and Co. would be aiming for a turnaround in the second game at Newlands, Cape Town. While there’s everything to play for in the series, expect no one to give an inch away when the teams collide later this week. You, on the other hand should not miss out on an opportunity to get maximum returns by investing on the best odds available on the market. Just read through and you will know how.

Hard working Burns goes for a fifty

Rory Burns to score a fifty in the match @ 2.0 (Bet365)

May be the hard-working opener from Surrey might have not been praised as per his credentials, but he is proving a point in every match he’s playing recently. England might just have a found a replacement to Alistair Cook if not a successor. If the 133-run in Birmingham during the Ashes was his breakthroughs innings, Burns’ 101 in Hamilton proved he was not a one-match wonder. His scores in the last five matches (both innings) are: (9, 84), (101), (52, 31), (47, 20), (81, 0) – he has scored a fifty in his last five Tests.

Burns has played a total of 15 matches and has scored a total of 6 half-centuries. Interestingly, he has scored four of them in the last five matches. In the ongoing 2019-20 season, the southpaw is scoring at an average of 55.40 which is pretty impressive. In the last five matches he averages 42.5, which is not ordinary by any means, making this a bet which promises double return on your investment.

Perfect duo starting for England

England to have the highest opening partnership @ 1.90 (Bet365)

While hunting for the facts, I was actually wondering if I should go for this bet or not because both the teams have been bang average in the top order. But, to my surprise, South Africa’s stats look quite inferior to that of their counterparts. If we look at the last five matches, the Proteas have never outscored their opponents for the opening stand in the first innings, having scored just 35 runs (7 runs on average) and conceded 390 runs (78 runs on average). Even at home, the South Africans have choked, having put on just 77 runs (15.4 runs on average) and shipped in 106 runs (21.2 runs on an average).

Only once have they had the upper hand in the above mentioned matches. If you feel that they had a rub of the green in matches against England, think again. In the last H2H matches, South Africa have just outscored them a couple of times. In the last five matches at Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa have had a better start in the first innings on just a couple of occasions, having scored a total of 117 runs (23.4 runs on average), out of which they lost the first wicket without any runs on the board a couple of times.

Stats shows value on Rabada

Kagiso Rabada to be South Africa’s top bowler in the first innings @ 3.25 (Bet365)

Let me tell you, it has been a daunting task for me to pick the better of Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, because they have always been at the top of their game in the past. But, scrutinising the stats minutely can actually give a clear picture. Both of them have taken 10 wickets each in the first innings of the last five matches. But the fact, Rabada has been extraordinary against England, gives him a head start. In the last five matches H2H matches, he’s picked up an astounding 20 wickets in the first innings with a career best of 7/112.

Newlands, Cape Town has also been a happy hunting ground for the speedster, having bagged 16 wickets in the first innings of the last five matches, compared to Philander’s 10 wickets. Apart from these two, it is unlikely that any other bowler is going to steal the show in the second Test. Rabada’s record at home further substantiates our claim. The pacer has picked up 134 wickets in 24 matches at home. Meanwhile, in the seven matches he’s played against the Three Lions, Rabada has racked up 45 wickets with an average of 24.62. PHEW!!! That’s some record. Some easy money on the way, just pick up your phone and place the bet.

Bonus Tip

While you can play safe by wagering on individual bets of $100 and inviting a return of $715 ($200 + $190 + $325), or you can hit the highway by parlaying the three bets for odds of 12.35, invest $300 and get a return of $3705!!