Australia v South Africa: Prediction, Tips and Odds

South Africa renew their rivalry with Australia in a clash of two teams that won their opening ICC Champions Trophy group matches on Tuesday.

The Proteas began their campaign with a 107-run win over Afghanistan in Karachi, as Ryan Rickelton smashed a ton and three other batters made half-centuries.

Rickelton laid the foundations for victory but the South African bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada (3/36), Wiaan Mulder (2/36), and Lungi Ngidi (2/56), then dismantled the Afghan batting line-up, restricting them to 208 all out.

Meanwhile, Australia chased down a formidable England total with 15 balls to spare in Lahore on Saturday thanks to Josh Inglis’ sparkling unbeaten knock of 120.

England will be rooting for Australia in this clash at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which looks set to provide a flat batting track and promise plenty of runs.

But Temba Bavuma’s men have won seven of their last 10 ODI matches against the Baggy Green, who look a little light in the bowling department without Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Australia v South Africa betting tips and predictions

South Africa to win @ 11/10

If this match was a semi-final or final there would be reasons to doubt South Africa, who have earned a deserved reputation as bottlers on the big occasions.

The Proteas are as talented as Australia on paper, but they always tend to fall short when the chips are down - such as at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

South Africa secured a comprehensive 134-run victory over the Baggy Green in the group stage of the tournament in India, albeit they were let off the hook by one of the worst fielding performances by an Australia side in living memory.

The Aussies dropped seven catches and were no better with a bat in their hands as only Marnus Labuschagne offered any resistance with 46 in a hollow total of 177 all out.

However, it was no surprise to see them come out on top when the sides met again in the semi-finals with Starc and Hazlewood reducing the Proteas to 24-4 at one stage with their opening burst. 

This clash offers Bavuma’s side a chance to avenge that loss with the added bonus of it not being a win-or-bust match for them.

South Africa have two big advantages over Australia going into this game with more in-form batters than their rivals and a greater variation in their attack.

They should not be underdogs for this match-up, although if the teams meet in the final it will be a different story.

Total Match Runs - Over 609.5 @ 5/6

Both teams came good with the bat in their opening matches and should prosper on the placid ‘Pindi surface.

This was the ‘bowler’s graveyard’ where England went on the attack to produce their third-highest post-war Test total in a famous win over Pakistan in 2022 and the wicket has been flat in white-ball internationals too.

Pakistan made 337-3 there against New Zealand in 2023 and there were no signs of appreciable turn when the Black Caps faced Bangladesh on the surface this week.

There is enough batting talent in both sides to make two big totals, with the potential reintroduction of Heinrich Klaasen to South Africa’s middle-order only likely to strengthen their hand.

More than 700 runs were scored when Australia beat England in Lahore and it would be no shock to see a similar high-scoring contest play out on Tuesday.

Aiden Markram 50+ runs @ 2/1

Aiden Markram has been a man in form for South Africa of late and could go well on a true surface if given a platform by the Proteas top order.

He made an unbeaten 52 off 36 balls against Afghanistan last week, following up another half-century scored in a warm-up match in Karachi.

Markram’s record against Australia in ODIs is noteworthy because his average of 41.20 is significantly higher than his overall international 50-over average of 37.14.

The right-hander has hit two 50s and a century in his last five ODI innings against the Aussies and looks to be good value to pass the half-century mark again.

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Australia v South Africa odds

Australia - 8/11
South Africa - 11/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.