Will it be a dream South Africa vs India final? The bookies think so. The Proteas take their seven-match winning streak into Wednesday's semi-final against New Zealand at Eden Gardens. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
The bookmakers are predicting a South Africa vs India final after installing the Proteas, and the co-hosts of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as the odds-on favourites to win their respective semi-finals over the next two days.
The Proteas face New Zealand later on Wednesday (starts 3.30pm) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata for their last-four clash. The former are heavily favoured to win the match due to a seven-match winning streak, sitting at 8/13 (R1.60) to the Black Caps’ 6/4 (R2.50). On Thursday, defending champions India are also expected to beat former champions England in their semi-final.
Meanwhile, the bookmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair between old sporting foes South African and New Zealand, with both teams expected to pass the 170-run mark. The Proteas are, however, considered the stronger batting line-up and are favoured to make over 180 runs during the match.
Nonetheless, the toss could be vitally important for both teams, with the expectation that should Proteas captain Aiden Markram win the first mini-battle before the game starts, he will opt to field first. The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to become easier to bat on as the match progresses, meaning a chase could suit the Proteas’ batters. The odds certainly favour that logic.
Markram, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton top the batting column regarding those predictions, while their bowling counterparts Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen are favourites to control the match.
The weather for the match is expected to be hot (with a maximum of 32°C), with no rain expected.
Perhaps the only disadvantage that the Proteas face, is that they have yet to play at the venue during this T20 World Cup.
Markram and co have played all their matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Black Caps, meanwhile, have also not played at the ground, having crisscrossed India and Sri Lanka during the tournament
The Black Caps also have an excellent record against the Proteas in knockout games at major ICC tournaments, though the Proteas have never lost to New Zealand at a T20 World Cup.