St. Georges Park, Gqeberha hosts the second test match between South Africa and Australia, the game gets under way on Sunday and in terms of the series the Proteas are up against it, 1-0 down with two to play
This is a 3 match series with Newlands, Cape Town the final destination. The firsts test was staged at Kingsmead, Durban and Australia ran out winners by 214 runs. Here is a wrap of what happened.
Australia were marginal favourites going into the game and they won the toss and opted to bat first. They lost the two openers with just 24 runs on the board but recovered to post 390 and 190 of those came from Matt Renshaw who batted at 5. Pat Cummins was second top scorer with 43 and of the Proteas bowlers Mulder took 4 wickets, Jansen 3 and Nortje 2.
In reply South Africa were all out for 284 and David Bedingham’s 49 was the top score. Cummins took 3 wickets and Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon all claimed 2.
Renshaw was at it again in the second innings, top scoring with 82 as Australia declared on 314/6 (Nortje and Maharah both took 2 wickets).
South Africa’s chances of avoiding defeat were slim heading into the final knock but Markram (75) and Bedingham (46) gave them hope on the final day. However when that resistance was broken the hosts innings was subsequently wound up on 206 and Hazlewood took 6 second innings wickets.
This was how the teams lined up at Kingsmead
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje
Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Team News
Tristan Stubbs has been left out of the squad for the second test with Matthew Breetzke coming in and Ryan Rickelton is expected to keep wicket rather than Kyle Verreynne. News of Kagiso Rabada’s availability was hard to find at the time of writing.
The Venue, St. Georges Park, Gqeberha
Recent Results
· 5–9 Dec 2024: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs
· 8–11 Apr 2022: South Africa beat Bangladesh by 332 runs
· 16–20 Jan 2020: England beat South Africa by an innings and 53 runs
· 21–23 Feb 2019: Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 8 wickets
· 9–12 Mar 2018: South Africa beat Australia by 6 wickets
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2nd Test Betting
Prices quoted from Sportingbet are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
South Africa are 27/20 to win the test with a draw at 100/30 and Australia can be backed at 5/4
Sportingbet price boosts include Hazlewood to be Australia’s top 1st innings bowler at 11/4 (from 9/4) and Markram to be South Africa’s top 1st innings bat at 4/1 (from 33/10)
The Verdict
I had no joy with a couple of picks for the first test and struggling to really find anything I like for the second. However, this is where the price boosts can help me out and the two I like the look of were mentioned earlier, Markram with the bat and Hazlewood with the ball. Hopefully both players will pick up where they left off from that second innings at Kingsmead.
Bets: Markram to be South Africa’s top 1st innings bat at 4/1 (from 33/10) with Sportingbet
Hazlewood to be Australia’s top 1st innings bowler at 11/4 (from 9/4) with Sportingbet
Note, prices are subject to change