Cricket: 4th ODI – South Africa v Sri Lanka Odds and Betting Preview

Story by George Coombs on 2012-01-19 23:04:40

KIMBERLY, SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa travel to Kimberly to take on Sri Lanka in the fourth game in their five match One Day International series, having already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead. South Africa were fortunate to win in Bloemfontein, as Sri Lanka produced their best performance of the tour only to be halted by the weather. The World Cup finalists have now recorded their fourth consecutive series defeat and they will be eager to restore their pride at the De Beers Diamond Oval.

South Africa are the 8/13 favourites with Sportingbet for this tie whilst the visitors, Sri Lanka are quoted at a standout 13/8 with Betfred and they could avoid a whitewash with victory today.

South Africa can now enjoy the luxury of resting many of their key players with the series victory already in the bag. They have outplayed their opponents throughout the series with agile fielding, careful stroke play and tight bowling. AB de Villiers will hope the new faces coming into the side can keep the standards high and push on to secure a series whitewash.

Sri Lanka have been steadily improving with every game in this series and they can count themselves very unfortunate now to arrive in Kimberly with the series still to lay for. Their batsman put the side in a strong position and has the rains not come the Sri Lankans would surely have won that game. This pitch at Kimberly looks set to be another high scoring wicket and the team batting first will want to set an imposing total. The visitors have not looked comfortable in the conditions in South Africa and will again face a thorough examination by the home side.

In the Top South Africa Batsman market, AB de Villiers has been installed as the 4/1 favourite with Paddy Power. The wicket-keeper captain hit an unbeaten 39 from 50 deliveries before the rain prematurely ended his time at the crease in the 3rd ODI. Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen can be backed at 9/2 with Sportingbet whilst Colin Ingram is a standout 5/1 chance with Ladbrokes to top his side’s run scoring charts today. The young and talented Faf du Plessis produced a 72 run innings that kept his side ahead on the Duckwork-Lewis scoring method in Bloemfontein and he is available at 11/2 to conti8nue his bright start in national colours.

Sri Lanka’s top order finally clicked after many abject performances against the Rainbow nation and they will hope to bui9ld on their performance today. Kumar Sangakkara is the most prominent player in the Top Sri Lanka Batsman betting, quoted as a generally available 7/2 chance while Tillakarante Dilshan and Upul Tharanga are both 4/1 shots with bet365. Tharanga has been the visitors’ most consistent performer with bat in hand in this series while the powerful Angelo Matthews a 9/1 chance with Stan James could provide runs down the order.

South Africa have already secured a series victory and they might decide to experiment with their bowling attack for this game. Dale Steyn looks set to be rested allowing Wayne Parnell to take his place while Vernon Philander could be preferred to Morne Morkel. Philander is a general 3/1 chance in the Top South Africa Bowler betting while Parnell is a standout 5/1 with bet365. Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been in superb form with the ball this summer and is a 7/2 shot with Blue Square in this market.

Lasith Malinga will once again lead the Sri Lankan bowling attack and he is quoted at 7/4 with Blue Square to be the pick of their bowlers on Friday. Nuwan Kulasekara is priced up at 9/2 with Ladbrokes and bowled very well in combination with Malinga to restrict South Africa to 3-52 at one stage in the last game. Dilshan will hope his slower bowlers can back up the pacemen and Rangana Herath is on offer at a standout 9/2 price with Ladbrokes.

Play begins at 12.30 GMT on Friday 20th January and the action is broadcast live on Sky Sports 2.

South Africa v Sri Lanka – Match Result Odds