South Africa v India Second T20 Tips: Back underrated hosts to win

• South Africa superior

• Reduced-overs match expected

• India balance an issue

South Africa v India
Tuesday 12 December, 15:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

South Africa v India Second T20 team news

South Africa have Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen available for only one more game as they depart to prepare for the Test series. There is no Lungi Ngidi (inury) or Kagiso Rabada (rested).

Matt Breetzke has been confirmed as opening partner for Reeza Hendricks. Breetzke strikes at a shade under 130 from 50 T20s. Tristan Stubbs may be asked to turn his arm over with Heinrich Klaasen taking the gloves.

Aiden Markam could also bowl. Lizaad Williams or Nandre Burger may get the third pacer role.

Possible XI: Breetzke, Hendricks, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Stubbs, Jansen, Coetzee, Maharaj, Shamsi, Williams

Deepak Chahar is an injury doubt for an India team which could struggle with its balance. There is, of course no Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah.

Ravi Bishnoi at No 8 is potentially alarming for backers while it is a struggle to see how they find room for a sixth bowling option. Tilak Varma could provide it but he's not likely to displace either Shreyas Iyer or Rinku Singh.

Suryakumar leads while Shubman Gill's return means Ruturaj Gaikwad may miss out.

Possible XI: Jaiswal, Gill, Shreyas, Yadav, Rinku, Jitesh, Jadeja, Bishnoi, Deepak/Arshdeep, Mukesh, Siraj

South Africa v India Second T20 pitch report

There were five matches played at St George's Park in the SAT20 earlier this year. It was a mixed bag with Sunrisers posting 210 in one match and then only 130 in the very next game.

The domestic Pro League saw matches twice a day through the bulk of February 2022 but any trend probably has to be dismissed considering surfaces were worn.

Rain is forecast and it's not predicted to clear until around two hours after the start time so innings runs markets will be dictated by overs reductions. Remember that the first-innings runs par line will not be voided for lost overs but the 20-over par line will.

With the threat of weather spoiling things the 2/13.00 that no first-innings fifty is struck is a handy option. We need 16 overs to be bowled for the bet to be stand.

South Africa v India Second T20 match odds

Game one in Durban was washed out and a second cannot be ruled out. Still, we remain hapy to get with South Africa at 2.206/5.

We don't need to believe that they are better than India to take such a bet, merely that they can match them. And if we're wrong about that then surely a reduced-overs contest narrows the gap between the two anyway.

As stated earlier, we're not enamoured with India's balance and their bowlers were often found wanting in terms of economy against Australia. South Africa's batting has the potential to cut loose and they should be more than competitive.

South Africa v India Second T20 player bets

Aiden Markam has been boosted to 7/24.50 by Sportsbook to top score for South Africa on the ground where he led home team Sunrisers.

Breetzke is 9/25.50 and it is fair to reckon openers should be shorter than normal because of the rain. Gill stands out for the same reason at a boosted 10/34.33.

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