Cricket: 3rd Test – South Africa v Sri Lanka Odds and Betting Preview

Story by George Coombs on 2012-01-02 20:38:11

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Newlands plays host to the third and final Test in this series between South Africa and Sri Lanka. The visitors stunned South Africa in the 2nd Test in Durban and recorded their first Test victory on South African soil which has set this game up as a winner takes all showdown.

South Africa are the standout 8/15 favourites with Skybet for this decider whilst Sri Lanka are 13/2 at bet365 to win another game in the Rainbow nation and with it record a first Test series victory on these shores. A draw in the third Test can be backed at 7/2 with William Hill.

South Africa breezed past an abject Sri Lankan performance in the opening match of the series in Centurion but were totally outplayed by the visitors in Durban. The hosts have failed to win their previous four home Test series and so will face severe criticism if they record anything but a win at their fortress Newlands. The selectors have responded to the woeful performance in Durban and have axed Ashwell Prince with the in-form Alviro Petersen will be reunited with skipper Graeme Smith at the top of the order. The home side have played 23 Tests at this ground since readmission in 1991 and have gone on to win 15, lose three and draw five and so Sri Lanka face a tough ask in front of partisan home support.

Sri Lanka head into this final Test match full of confidence, having pulled off a shock 208 run victory in Durban. The players will again need to all contribute as Samaraweera and Sangakkara made hundreds whilst Welegedera and Herath took five-fors to propel their side to victory in that second Test.  The Newlands ground is very conducive to pace bowling and cloud forecast for the opening morning should give an early advantage to the seamers, which will not suit the tourists. Sun has been forecast for the remainder of the Test and so Sri Lanka should have the perfect opportunity to make history by recording a series victory in Cape Town.

In the Top South African Batsman market, Hashim Amla heads the betting at 7/2 with Stan James and Sportingbet. He made a half century in both innings in the second Test and is settled in his role at number three. Jacques Kallis is an industry best price of 15/4 with Paddy Power and only once in the last nine seasons has the powerful batsman gone through the home season without recording a Test century. He starts his 150th Test at a ground he is very fond of with an average of over 70 and will hope to make amends having collected three ducks in his past four Tests. Graeme Smith is a 9/2 chance with Skybet whilst the new man Alviro Petersen is 6/1 at Sportingbet in this market.

Kumar Sangakkara has been installed as the general 7/2 favourite in the Top Sri Lankan Batsman betting and he played very well to record a century in Durban. Mahela Jayawardene is a 4/1 chance with Sportingbet whilst the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is a 5/1 shot with Stan James. Dilshan has struggled in Test match cricket recently only picking up two half-centuries in his last 15 games but he will always be a danger to the South African bowlers with his aggressive style. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana are both quoted at 11/2 with BetVictor and bet365 respectively to top their side’s run-scoring charts in Cape Town.

Dale Steyn is a 9/4 chance in the Top South African Bowler market after his five-wicket haul in the second innings in Durban. Vernon Philander has recently returned to the side and he has four five-wicket hauls in three Tests with his accurate swing bowling and is 11/4 at BetVictor here. Chanaka Welegedara is the most prominent bowler in the Top Sri Lankan Bowler betting, priced up at 5/2 with Blue Square whilst spinner Rangana Herath is an 11/4 shot with the same firm but may not have conditions to suit.

South Africa’s new opening pair are quoted at 8/11 with BetVictor in the Highest Opening Partnership market. Petersen and Smith are no strangers to each other and have averaged over 50 in their 17 opening partnerships to date. The Sri Lankan openers will hope to get their side off to a flying start and they can be backed at 11/8 with Blue Square here.  

Play begins at 08.30 GMT on Tuesday 3rd January and all the action is broadcast live on Sky Sports 1.

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 – Highest Opening Partnership Odds