South Africa vs Australia Prediction: Zampa can spin Aussies to final

Who will play the hosts India in the Cricket World Cup final? We'll find out in Kolkata on Thursday morning (08:30), as South Africa take on Australia. We've previewed the match and given you our betting predictions for this massive showdown. 

As I write this preview, India are marching into Sunday's final, thanks to magnificent tons from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyas and some more heroics with the ball from Mohammed Shami. But will it be South Africa (6/5) or Australia (4/6) who faces them in Ahmedabad?

The Proteas started the tournament like a house on fire but have stuttered a little towards the end of the group stage, losing to India and more worryingly the Netherlands.

However, their success has been built on a solid foundation of heavy-hitting and all-out attack with the bat. In particular the likes of opener Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have weighed in with huge runs, ably supported by the massive hitting ability of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen and David Miller.

Australia, meanwhile, started the tournament like they were on a mission to go home, losing their opening two games in dreadful performances against India and South Africa. What followed, however, was truly remarkable, as the Baggy Green went into a completely different mindset and have won seven straight games since.

That was best encapsulated in the miracle comeback against Afghanistan, where Glenn Maxwell pulled off the greatest ODI innings of all time, scoring 201* off just 128 balls and while on one leg.

These two sides have history against each other at this stage, with Australia winning in both the 1997 and 2007 semi-finals. Can South Africa finally gain revenge in 2023?

Team news

Glenn Maxwell should return here for the Australians, after recovering from severe cramp suffered during his heroics against Afghanistan. Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald will have to make a decision between the reliability of Marnus Labuschagne and the explosiveness of Marcus Stoinis in the middle order. I expect them to go for the former.

Australia (probable): David Warner, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.

The Proteas also have a dilemma on their hands, as they have to make a call between dynamic quick Gerald Coetzee, who has taken consistent wickets with his aggressive short-pitched bowling, or the trickery of spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

It looks as though skipper Temba Bavuma will be fit to play, after struggling with a hamstring injury.

South Africa (probable): Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Australia to win - 4/6

Australia may have the wood over South Africa at the World Cup semi-final stage but in recent times, it's the Proteas who have had the better of things. Bevuma's side have won their last four ODI's against the Aussies, winning by a combined 531 runs.

However, I'm a big believer in momentum and Australia have that in bucketfuls at the moment. Pat Cummin's men have found form with the bat and will be confident of outscoring even this huge-scoring South Africa outfit.

In Adam Zampa (see below), they have the X-factor with the ball and I think he will make a big difference in the middle overs. I can see this one being extremely tight but the five-time winners Australia just have that know-how of how to get over the winning line.

Adam Zampa top AUS wicket taker - 2/1

The 31-year-old leg-spinner has been superb at CWC2023 and is the leading wicket taker at this tournament, with 22 victims across his nine games.

Extremely accurate and able to move the ball both ways is a dangerous combo and Zampa threatens the wicket on most deliveries, bringing in LBW and bowled as a regular wicket-taking option.

When the likes of Klassen and Markram are attempting to tee-off in the middle overs, it's Zampa that Cummins will throw the ball to to get him a vital breakthrough.

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