USA v South Africa Prediction: Weather can help 9/2 outsiders’ cause

It’s USA v South Africa on Wednesday, June 19 (15:30, Sky Sports Cricket) at North Sound in yet another match where the weather may play a big part, given the forecast, so bear that in mind.

James Pacheco thinks a match reduced in overs, combined with poor South Africa batting makes the USA a bet, while their star bowler is one to side with on the top wicket-taker market as he takes us through his USA vs South Africa T20 Predictions...

USA

What a story. The hosts are through to the Super 8 stage of a tournament that many felt they were lucky to be playing in at all; or to put it another way, that they were only in it because they were hosting it.

Yes, that rained off match against Ireland worked in their favour, depriving Pakistan of the chance to cheer on an Ireland win and then go on and beat Paul Sterling’s men themselves (which they did). But the USA beat Canada well, held their nerve against Pakistan and even threatened to cause the mother of all upsets against India, so they deserve to be in the next round.

Batters Aaron Jones, Andries Gous and Monank Patel all caught the eye, as did S Netravalkar and Ali Khan with the ball. Corey Anderson, by far their most famous and experienced player, has been strangely under-used, often batting at six and only bowling seven overs in three matches. They obviously haven’t needed him.

Possible XI: Jahangir, Taylor, Gous, Jones, Kumar, Anderson, H Singh, van Schalkwyk, J Singh, Netravalkar, Khan.

South Africa

Typical Proteas. The one time they come into a tournament with low expectations is the time they sail through qualifying with an 100% record.

Still, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, far from it. The win over Sri Lanka was extremely comprehensive and despite a slight stutter in the chase, they still beat the Netherlands with 7 balls to spare. But they could easily have lost to both Bangladesh and Nepal, with the pair of them going to the last ball of the match. Given their reputation as cricket’s great chokers and it was a real shot in the arm that they emerged victorious from both of those.

But if their bowling attack looks superb, and will be even stronger now that they’re likely to carry on playing Tebraiz Shamsi, their batting is what’s got them into such complex situations.

Reeza Hendricks’ pedestrian knock against Nepal may have been a match-winning one but he’s been terribly out of form, as has fellow opener Quinton de Kock.

One fifty in four matches (David Miller) isn’t going to cut it in the next stage and though they played on some tricky wickets, someone is going to have to step up because their bowling can’t keep on bailing them out.

The impressive keeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton awaits his chance in the wings. One option is to dop one of the openers, have Aiden Markram open and Rickelton at three.

Possible XI: De Kock, Hendricks/Rickelton, Markram, Klassen, Stubbs, Miller, Jensen, Rabada, Nortje, Shamsi, Bartman.

Pitch and conditions

We’re at North Sound for this one. The wicket looked a good one when England posted 122/5 off just 10 overs and Namibia replied with 84/3, at one stage threatening to come pretty close. It also looked decent when Scotland played Oman, with Namibia’s capitulation at the hands of Australia (all out for 72) a bit of an aberration and one we can ignore as a bit of a freak result.

But there’s some weather around with a 50% chance of rain for the first three hours or so meaning the smart money is on a match reduced to maybe 13-15 overs a side; or a full (albeit delayed) game, with a bit of luck.

USA vs South Africa Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main USA vs South Africa T20 World Cup market page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

It’s not hard to make a case for the USA at 9/2. They’ve shown good ability in all three disciplines, nerves of steel against Pakistan, and stomach for the fight.

They also showed they can score big on a good wicket (Canada) and win a game on a low-scoring challenging one (Pakistan).

Then there’s the old argument that a reduction in overs also reduces the gulf between sides because they have to be good across a shorter period of time. And as we know, this could be a shortened game.

Add to the equation SA’s batting woes and it’s a simple choice.

USA Top Wicket-Taker

It’s also an easy case to make for Saurabh Netravalkar as top USA bowler.

He’s won it once already in three attempts and his four wickers are one better than the next-best in N Kenjige and Ali Khan, while his economy rate, always a good indication of how well you’re bowling, is a superb 5.2.

His career numbers show that he’s a pretty consistent sort and with the added benefit of being one of three bowlers who are likely to bowl their full quota, he ticks enough boxes for a 16/5 chance.

Jamie Pacheco predominantly covers Cricket for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out his Cricket Betting Tips, along with those from the rest of the team, at our Cricket hub page...