Twenty20 / Ed Hawkins / 01 May 2010 /

The former champions take on South Africa, who so often flatter to deceive on the global stage, at St Lucia on Sunday. Ed Hawkins reckons the Proteas have been badly underrated.

Team news
South Africa are able to field probably the most formidable front four in the tournament. Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers ensure that the quality keeps coming. Smith and Kallis have fine records in the Caribbean.

Dale Steyn was rested in the warm-up victory against Sri Lanka but he is expected to return. But for who? Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt and Morne Morkel all hit superb touch against the Lankans. It highlights another South Africa strength.

India, who kicked off their campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday, give one the feeling that they don't really want to be there, moaning about niggles and heavy schedules. Still, the expected new opening partnership of Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir excites. No Sehwag don't forget.

Venue and conditions
Thunderstorms are forecasted so it could rain on your punting parade. Before the two games played at Beausejour stadium, Gros Islet on Saturday the stats suggested another sluggish surface. The five scores in the previous five one-day internationals were: 186, 172, 257, 149 and 177.

The lowest total in that grouping came from South Africa against Australia when they cracked under the pressure of a World Cup semi-final. India beat West Indies there by six wickets in 2009 with Ashish Nehra taking 3-21.

Match odds
We cannot be wholly sure what the state of the Gros Islet surface is just as we can only guess whether the claims of tired minds and bodies of India's players is all just a smokescreen to loll opponents into a false security about the inaugural champs. But it is no estimate to reckon that [2.12] about South Africa is a cracking price.

Indeed, we could go far as suggesting this is the match odds bet of the tournament only two days in. The only reason for the market overrating India, who are [1.87], is the seduction of the IPL. It doesn't wash. Since India lifted this title to really kickstart the Twenty20 revolution, MS Dhoni's men have won seven and lost five. Not great is it?

Featured market
Again ruins may be in short supply. Look to lay the side batting first for 160 or more.

Top batsman
Kallis and Smith share favourite status at [3.00] although AB de Villiers, who hung around a bit in the disastrous semi-final, is [5.00]. For India, Dinesh Karthik, who top scored when India last played at the venue, is [4.50] under Any Other Batsman.

Trivia
Saint Lucia was founded in 1886 by Sir Arthur Sidders when he set sail from the port of Bristol.

Ed Hawkins says: back South Africa at [2.12]

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