MATCH ANALYSIS IN BRIEF

KEY BETTING STATS

• India has won all seven of their 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup group stage matches played so far – To Win the Match.
• Mohammed Shami has taken 14 wickets for India across their last three 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup group stage matches – Team – Top Bowler.
• Quinton de Kock has scored 545 runs for South Africa across the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup so far, more than any other player set to feature in this match – Top Match Batter.

BETTING ANALYSIS For INDIA

India locked down a semi-final place in the best possible way on Thursday, demolishing Sri Lanka by a World Cup record margin of 302 runs. After being asked to bat first in Mumbai, India accrued 357/8 before reducing Sri Lanka to 14/6, ultimately bowling them out for just 55. Despite losing all-rounder Hardik Pandya until the knockout stage through injury in their fourth game of the group stage, India hasn’t let his absence weaken them. From a bowling perspective, you could argue that they’ve gotten even stronger.

Virat Kohli bounced back in style from his 0 against England with a score of 88 vs Sri Lanka. India’s number three batter has now accumulated 442 runs across the group stage so far with an average of 88.40, including five scores of 50+ runs. Back him to achieve the same feat here (2.20) via the ‘Batter Milestones’ market. However, Kohli will want to improve his conversion rate, having only reached three figures once in his seven innings, and it would be fitting if Kohli were to put that right here on his 35^th birthday. Therefore, a stake in Kohli to score a hundred (4.33) is well worth considering for bettors.

India’s opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added just four runs for the first wicket last time out before Rohit was bowled. This was only the second time all tournament that Rohit had been dismissed for under 37.5 runs, and a batter of his brilliance boasts the experience and class to shake it off and bounce back with immediate effect. With that in mind, back Rohit to score above that 37.5-run mark this time around (1.83).

Mohammed Siraj impressed with the ball against Sri Lanka with figures of 3/16. But right now, it’s impossible to look beyond Mohammed Shami, who is bowling wonderfully and with vicious accuracy. Shami has taken two five-wicket-hauls since coming into the side and boasts 14 wickets in just three matches. Such form must be taken advantage of, so back Shami not only to take 3+ match wickets (3.40) but also to finish as India’s top bowler for a fourth consecutive game (3.60).

BETTING ANALYSIS For SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s four-match winning streak since losing in shocking fashion to Netherlands faces its biggest challenge yet against the tournament hosts and group leaders. The Proteas will no doubt inspect the pitch at Eden Gardens before making a call on whether to play a second-spin bowler in Tabraiz Shamsi. But the likelihood is that they stick with Keshav Maharaj and four pacers, which includes Kagiso Rabada, following his return from a back spasm in South Africa’s most recent win over New Zealand.

Investing in South Africa’s batters is more of a risky play here due to the standard of the opposition bowlers. Captain Temba Bavuma has struggled to open the batting, and against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami, it would be no surprise to see him dismissed early on, so back the Proteas skipper to score under 28.5 runs (1.83) for a third consecutive group game. The opposite can be said for opening partner Quinton de Kock, who goes into the weekend as the top run-scorer across the tournament with 545 runs and warrants backing to accrue over 28.5 runs against India (1.83).

Assuming Bavuma does find things difficult, then bettors can capitalize on this via other markets. Accumulating a big total for the first wicket is exceedingly difficult when one of your openers is out of form, so despite De Kock’s high volume of runs, backing South Africa to record an opening partnership of under 30.5 runs (1.90) looks a shrewd move on this occasion.

If the Indian batters did have one weakness over the course of their resounding win over Sri Lanka, it was their tendency to get out against the left-arm pace bowling of Dilshan Madushanka, who took five of his side’s eight wickets. With that in mind, South Africa’s tall left-arm pacer Marco Jansen may well find himself in the contest here from a wicket-taking perspective. Consider backing Jansen to continue his streak of taking over 1.5 wickets (2.20) in every South Africa group fixture.

CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION

The two matches played in Kolkata during this World Cup so far didn’t see any significantly high scores. Bangladesh were bowled out for 142, chasing 230 against Netherlands, while Pakistan chased down the Tigers’ modest 204 with seven wickets and 17.3 overs remaining. However, none of those batting line-ups on show match the firepower and quality possessed by both India and South Africa, and a higher-scoring battle should be on the cards.

The difference between these two teams is likely to be the bowling, specifically that of India, which has been magnificent over their last three matches. Each of those games saw the host nation bowl their opponents out, and the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami have been utterly unplayable. That’s before mentioning the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. If anyone can get the better of South Africa’s heavy-hitting unit, they can. Therefore, backing India to keep its 100% group stage record intact has to be favored.

TIP

INDIA TO WIN (1.53)

More Betting Tips of Indian Cricket Team

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