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Close contest expected in Port Elizabeth
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Markram a bet at 16/5
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Do the Baartman at 7/2
Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals
Thursday 12 January, 15:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Team news
Sunrisers are expected to struggle because they lack big names. Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen hold it altogether. They need Ottniel Baartman, Sisanda Magala and Junaid Dawood to reproduce domestic form.
Possible XI: Erwee, Rossington, Markram, Stubbs, Abell, Smuts, Cox, Jansen, Junaid, Baartman, Magala
Wayne Parnell leads the Capitals. They are reliant on Rilee Rossouw with the bat. Anrich Nortje leads the attack and Adil Rashid is crucial. Ethan Bosch is a home pacer to watch out for.
Possible XI: Delport, Salt, Rossouw, Jacks, De Bruyn, Neesham, Parnell, Adil Rashid, M Pretorius, E Bosch, Nortje
Pitch report
We're looking at an average first-innings score of 152 at St George's Park. If we can go under the par line in the mid 160s all the better. We'll still take lows 160s, though. That will be the target for the side batting first and that is an average wining score.
How to play
Sunrisers are 2.206/5. We're tempted by that. Perhaps when the market matures we might get closer to 2.407/5. There's little to choose between the teams and, man for man, they may even have the edge.
Tops value
Baartman has the best strike rate of his team-mates in the last 12 months in doemstic T20. He takes a wicket every 14.5 balls. Sportsbook make him an outsider at 7/2 Staying with bowlers, it's between Shaun van Berg and Ethan Bosch for top Pretoria bowler. Van berg took a wicket every 13.5 balls and Bosch 14.5. Neither should be as big as 5s.
With the bat, Markram is Mr Reliable on these markets for South Africa so we're enamoured with the 16/5 that he top scores for Sunrisers.
Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Giants
Friday 13 January, 11:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Team news
Paarl were outclassed by Cape Town in the opener but they won't be the last team to suffer at their hands. As predicted in our team guide the batting looks weak and Jos Buttler must do heavy lifting.
Probable XI: Buttler, Lubbe, Roy, Vilas, Miller, Morgan, Adams, Furtuin, Simmonds, Yusuf, Shamsi
Joburg's won in Durban in a surprisingly high-scoring game. If a player manages a better performance than Donovan Ferreira's all tournament then good luck. He smashed Durban all over the park when under the piump and then turned the game on its head with the ball.
Probable XI: J Malan, Hendricks, Du Plessis, Verreynne, Gregory, Ferreira, Shepherd, Garton, Joseph, Siboto, Phangiso
Pitch report
Over a 16-game study there is a chase bias of 62%. The average winning score is 176, so factor that in to in-play strategies. The average first dig score over the study period is 163.
How to play
Early days but the market is shaping up to make this a choice affair. If the in-play strategy above doesn't float your boat then you can bet the chaser blind. A score of 160-odd for the side batting first will still have this as a pretty pick 'em affair.