Cricket: 1st Test Match – South Africa v Sri Lanka Odds and Betting Preview

 0 Comments  George Coombs 2011-12-14 16:21:22

CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA – Sri Lanka begin their tour of South Africa at Supersport Park in Centurion, on Thursday. The visitors will contest a three match test series followed by a five match ODI series in the rainbow nation. Sri Lanka will hope to end their current 14 match win-less streak whilst South Africa have been very poor on home soil in recent years having only won two of six tests since 2007.

South Africa are the short priced 1/2 favourites with Stan James to take the opener at a venue where they have won 12 of their 16 tests to date whilst Sri Lanka are a standout 8/1 with Betfred to claim a surprise test victory. The draw has been priced up a 4/1 with Sportingbet.

South Africa have not won a home test series since 2008, against Bangladesh, and will want to perform here following a confidence boosting two-match series against Australia recently. Despite this statistic South Africa is a difficult place to travel for sub-continent sides and the Proteas will name a formidable side, with no injury concerns at present.  

Sri Lanka only managed to grind out a draw in their warm-up match against a South African Invitational XI and have been dealt a double injury blow before the Sunfoil Test seies has even begun. A hamstring injury has forced Nuwan Pradeep to withdraw from the tour whilst Kumar Sangakkara is doubtful after splitting the webbing between two fingers during that game. Sri Lanka come to South Africa on the back of a demoralising test series defeat against Pakistan in the UAE. Since 2009 the Sri Lankans have only managed to draw two series and have lost four others and they will be tested once more against a strong South African pace attack with conditions in their favour.

In the Top South African Batsman market Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis have both been priced up at 7/2 with Ladbrokes. Graeme Smith is a general 4/1 chance and scored a healthy looking 185 runs in the two matches against Australia and looks in good nick ready for this series. These three and AB de Villiers a 5/1 shot with bet365 have all averaged over 50 in this format of the game since the end of 2007 and look set to score the bulk of the South African runs. Mark Boucher needs to put in some big performances in this series to silence his critics and is 25/1 with Sportingbet to top his side’s run-scoring charts in Centurion.

Kumar Sangakkara has been installed at the head of the Top Sri Lanka Batsman market at 10/3 with Boylesports and should overcome his injury as his side need him to start the game. Mahela Jayawardene is 7/2 with Ladbrokes whilst Tillakaratne Dilshan is a standout 9/2 with Stan James. Thilan Samaraweera has averaged over 50 in the last two years and this series could see a return to form following some poor performances and he is on offer at 6/1 at Betfred.

The strong South African bowling line-up should prove to be the deciding factor in this match and Dale Steyn is 11/5 with Stan James to be the Top South African Bowler in this first test. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways and the home conditions and green pitch will be perfect for the pace man. Morne Morkel is 3/1 with Blue Square whilst the new face in this attack, Vernon Philander is 10/3 at Boylesports. He collected the man of the series award in his maiden test series against Australia and will cause the visitors problems from his opening delivery.

The Sri Lanka bowling attack has suffered following the retirement of Muralitharan and Malinga from this format of the game and now all hopes rest on the shoulders of Chanaka Welegedara who heads the Top Sri Lankan Bowler market at 3/1 with bet365. Fernando is quoted at 7/2 with the same firm whilst Ajantha Mendis is a standout 4/1 with Ladbrokes in this first test match.

Play begins at 08.30 GMT and is broadcast live on Sky Sports 2.

South Africa v Sri Lanka – Match Result Odds
South Africa v Sri Lanka – Top South African Batsman Odds
South Africa v Sri Lanka – Top Sri Lankan Batsman Odds
South Africa v Sri Lanka – Top South African Bowler Odds
South Africa v Sri Lanka – Top Sri Lankan Bowler Odds