New Zealand are set to take on South Africa in the first test match of a 2-match test series which will start on Sunday the 4th of February at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. We look at this test match from a betting angle.
SERIES BETTING
New Zealand are expected to easily overcome the second-string South African line-up with the New Zealand series win priced at 2/11 with the draw at 9/2 and South Africa to win the series priced at 22/1.
NEW ZEALAND
Tim Southee will captain the New Zealand side who have named a very powerful line-up coming into this 2-match series. New Zealand have named top-ranked test batsman Kane Williamson in the squad for the 1st test and although he had injury trouble, he is expected to be healthy enough to play.
Although players like Nicholls and Sodhi have been left out of the squad, the team is balanced and ready for the challenge. This will be New Zealand’s first test match of the year with them taking on Bangladesh in their most recent 2-match series that was hosted in Bangladesh late last year. The series ended 1-1 with Bangladesh winning the first match by 150 runs and New Zealand picking up the second by 4 wickets.
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African side named for these tests is a second-string squad of 15 players with 8 of these players not being capped for South Africa yet. This is due to the number of 1st choice players in the SA20 league in South Africa.
Neil Brand will captain the side in what will be his debut match for the Proteas and the talk amongst the squad is that the low profile of their squad as a whole may play to their advantage with New Zealand not expecting much of a challenge.
South Africa are coming off a drawn home series with India. The series score was 1-1 with South Africa dominating the first match, winning by an innings and 32 runs. The second match went the way of India by 7 wickets.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The last time these sides met was in 2022 in a 2-match series hosted at Hagley Oval in New Zealand. Where the Kiwis smashed the Proteas in the first test, winning the match by an innings and 276 runs. The second match ended in a 198-run win for the South Africans, leveling the series at 1-1.
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BETTING – click here to bet
New Zealand 1/4
Draw 15/2
South Africa 7/1
Suggested Bet: First Innings – Neil Brand total fours over 2.5 at 1/1
Brand is a player who I suspect will be comfortable at international level and I am betting that the batting all-rounder leads from the front.
Suggested Bet: New Zealand Top Bowler First Innings – Matt Henry at 39/20
I believe that Henry is priced as the favourite for this bet for a reason and with a lot of experience at International test match level he should give the visitors plenty of problems.
All prices correct at time of writing but subject to change.
