Pakistan vs South Africa Betting Preview and Predictions

South Africa come into this match from a position of strength, after winning four of their five matches so far.

They’ll be pretty sure that two more wins from their remaining four matches will be more than enough to qualify for the semi-finals and even just one more win could prove to be sufficient.

Beating Pakistan, rivals for a semi-final spot, would certainly further help their cause. So, for the Proteas, it’s an important match in that regard.

But it’s an even bigger match for Pakistan themselves. They’re on just two wins from five matches and can’t afford too many more mistakes; as it is they’ll probably need to win this one and at least two of their remaining three after that to have a chance of a semi-final spot.

So, lots to play for in a match that will give us a good idea of who are still genuine contenders to make the last four by the time it’s over.

Pakistan vs South Africa betting preview

Table of Contents

📝 Pakistan vs South Africa odds

There are stats and betting tips coming up right now but first up, let’s consider the latest odds from our recommended cricket bookmakers.

10CRIC

Pakistan to win at 2.52 with 10CRIC -> Bet now!
South Africa to win at 1.55 with 10CRIC -> Bet now!

Cricbaba

Pakistan to win at 2.45 with Cricbaba -> Bet now!
South Africa to win at 1.55 with Cricbaba -> Bet now!

Bettilt

Pakistan to win at 2.44 with Bettilt -> Bet now!
South Africa to win at 1.54 with Bettilt -> Bet now!

Pakistan vs South Africa predictions

We’re in Chennai for this one. It’s the home of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, who have enjoyed so much success over the years. So, it’s a ground we know well.

However, it’s one of those grounds that’s never particularly easy to call.

When India played Australia here a couple of weeks ago, they did an excellent job of restricting the Aussies to 199, only to lose three wickets in the blink of an eye in the chase.

Excellent knocks from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul ended up bailing them out but it was proof that there always tends to be something in the wicket for both the seamers and the spinners. Especially early on.

Other matches here during this World Cup saw Bangladesh score 245 against New Zealand, which was easily chased. New Zealand then won here again after posting and defending 288 against Afghanistan. Then it was the Afghan’s turn to secure a win here after chasing Pakistan’s 283 with an over to go.

So, 280 should be about par in terms of a first-innings total but it’s not so obvious as to whether it’s best to bat first, or chase.

Team updates

Given the inconsistency of their performances so far, Pakistan have already made a few changes to their XI over the course of the tournament.

Given they lost to Afghanistan in the last match, there may be more. Mohammad Wasim may get a game in place of Usama Mir, who’s had a quiet couple of outings so far.

For South Africa, skipper Temba Bavuma continues to nurse an injury and has missed the last two games. But SA certainly haven’t missed him as they keep on winning.

If he does return, Reeza Hendricks will make way while fast bowler Lungi Ngidi could return in place of Lizaad Williams, unless they go with another spinner in Tabraiz Shamsi, instead.

Pakistan Probable XI:

Imam, Shafique, Babar, Rizwan, Shakeel, Iftikhar, Shadab, Wasim/Mir, Afridi, Hasan, Rauf.

South Africa Probable XI:

De Kock, Bavuma/Hendricks, van der Dussen, Markram, Klaasen, Jansen, Coetzee, Rabada, Ngidi/Williams/Shamsi.

📊 Pakistan vs South Africa key stats

So that’s the team news done. Let’s move on to some useful stats.

South Africa have a surprisingly good record in this fixture against Pakistan: across 82 ODIs they’ve won 51 of them with 30 losses and one no-result.
They’ve played each other five times in ODI World Cups: SA won the first three: 1992, 1996 and 1999, before Pakistan beat them in 2015 and 2019.
The last time they faced each other in ODIs was in South Africa in 2021, with Pakistan winning the Series 2-1.
Babar Azam was man of the match in both of Pakistan’s wins in that Series with a century in the first match and an excellent 94 off 82 balls in the third.
Against South Africa, Pakistan batsmen Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Imam Ul Haq averaged 54, 65 and 49 respectively, proof that all three love playing against the Proteas.

Pakistan vs South Africa betting tips

Pakistan are around the 2.44 mark to win this match and that looks about right to us.

We know they can be brilliant on their day, but we also know that their bowling has so far been wayward, their fielding sloppy and their lower middle order looks weaker than in previous editions of the World Cup.

So, by all means, have a punt on them as outsiders given their potential but remember your bet many just depend on which Pakistan will show up on the day.

South Africa on the other hand have been excellent, bar that hiccup against the Netherlands. But then again, the odds of around 1.54 to win this match against a historically strong team tell you that anyway.

1. Babar Azam to score 50 at 2.22 (Rajabets)

Babar Azam hasn’t been quite at his best so far this tournament. Two fifties from five matches so far at an average of 31 is ok but it’s not what we expect from one of the world’s best batters. Not to mention, that Azam might be removed as the team captain.

With much on the line, this might be an opportunity for redemption. As discussed already, he hit 94 and a century against South Africa a couple of years ago and in total, averages 65 against them. So, he certainly knows what to do when up against their bowling attack.

On a surface that requires skill and patience in equal measure, this could be just the sort of wicket where he gets to 50 in a contribution that could go a long way to winning the match.

➡️ Bet on Babar Azam to score 50 at 2.22 with Rajabets

2. Gerald Coetzee to be South Africa’s top bowler at 3.9 (Sportsbet.io)

Gerard Coetzee may be a newcomer to international cricket, but he’s already made his mark at this tournament.

After sitting out the first match, he then took 10 wickets across his next four to see him tied on 10 with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. So, he’s on the same number of wickets as them, having played a game fewer.

Pakistan won’t have seen much of him, which is an advantage to the big SA quick, and he may just surprise them with his extra pace.

But best of all is the fact that at odds of 3.9, he’s the same price as Jansen and a bigger price than Rabada, with the added bonus that he’ll bowl the death overs, when wickets most tend to fall.

➡️ Bet on Gerald Coetzee to be South Africa’s top bowler at 3.9 with Sportsbet.io

3. Back Heinrich Klassen to be the player of the match at 14.0 (Bettilt)

That Heinrich Klassen is in the form of his life is no secret.

Batting at five, he’s so far scored 288 runs this World Cup including a century and a 90 in his last two games. As if that wasn’t good enough, his strike rate in this tournament stands at a barely believable 150 thanks in part to striking 15 sixes and 22 fours.

Given he bats in the middle-order he may just miss out on being SA’s top batsman if someone ahead of him gets to 100. But another whirlwind innings may see him have a serious chance to be man of the match in a game that the Proteas are fancied to win. The odds of 14.0 are too good to turn down.

➡️ Back Heinrich Klassen to be Player of the Match at 14.0 with Bettilt