Fresh from their come-from-behind 2-1 series victory over Australia, South Africa take on Bangladesh at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, starting on Sunday 15 November, and we take a look at the match from a betting angle.
South Africa
South Africa come into this series on the back of a thrilling Test series victory over Australia, where they recovered from a terrible start to win the series 2-1.
The first Test at Kingsmead was something of a disaster for the home side, who suffered a 214-run defeat.
Things weren’t looking much better in the second Test at St George’s Park, where South Africa found themselves in serious trouble before captain Temba Bavuma led a remarkable fightback with a stunning century. The Proteas eventually turned the match around to win by an innings and 31 runs.
The third and deciding Test at Newlands went deep into the fifth day, with South Africa once again having to recover from a difficult position. There were also periods where the South Africans had opportunities to take control of the match but failed to capitalise.
Simon Harmer produced a superb performance with the ball on the final day to help South Africa secure a memorable series victory.
They now turn their attention to Bangladesh, and they appear to have a well-balanced side capable of making the most of home conditions.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh have been considerably busier than South Africa in Test cricket this year and arrive with some encouraging performances behind them, despite their recent results being mixed.
They are coming off a two-match home series against the West Indies, where they lost the opening Test by eight wickets before drawing the second match.
Prior to that, Bangladesh played a one-off Test against Afghanistan, which also ended in a draw.
Their most notable performance came during a two-match series in Australia, where they stunned the hosts with a nine-wicket victory in the opening Test. Australia responded emphatically in the second, winning by an innings and 51 runs to leave the series level at 1-1.
That victory in Australia demonstrated that Bangladesh are capable of competing against quality opposition, and South Africa will need to guard against complacency.
Head-to-head
Bangladesh have never beaten South Africa in Test cricket.
The two countries have met 16 times, with South Africa winning 14 matches and the remaining two ending in draws. The Proteas have won the last six meetings between the sides.
Their most recent series took place in Bangladesh during the 2024/25 season, with South Africa winning both Tests convincingly.
- First Test: South Africa won by 7 wickets.
- Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 273 runs.
Match Betting – click here to bet
| Result | Odds |
| South Africa | 1.25 |
| Draw | 7.25 |
| Bangladesh | 9.00 |
Bangladesh are certainly capable of causing South Africa a few problems, but it is no surprise to see the home side trading as such firm favourites.
At 1.25, there is little appeal in backing South Africa in the outright market, and unless you fancy opposing them, there doesn’t appear to be much value in getting involved.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other betting markets to explore.
Betting Selections
Bet 1: Bangladesh First Innings – South Africa Top Wicket Taker
Marco Jansen at 3.25
Jansen produced some excellent spells against Australia, and I have always felt that his style of bowling is particularly well suited to the Wanderers.
The Johannesburg surface traditionally offers additional bounce, which should play into the hands of the tall left-arm seamer.
Jansen’s ability to extract steep bounce, combined with the angle he creates, could make life particularly uncomfortable for the Bangladesh batsmen.
At 3.25, he looks an attractive option to finish as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in Bangladesh’s first innings.
Bet 2: South Africa Top Batsman
Ryan Rickelton at 6.00
Rickelton played a superb knock in the second innings of the deciding Test against Australia at Newlands, and there is every reason to believe he can carry that form into the Bangladesh series.
He should take plenty of confidence from that performance, and batting in the middle order could prove advantageous at the Wanderers.
With the new ball potentially having lost some of its shine by the time he arrives at the crease, Rickelton may have an opportunity to build a substantial innings.
At 6.00, he appeals in the South Africa top batsman market.
In-Running Betting
Remember that World Sports Betting offers in-running betting throughout the Test match, providing plenty of opportunities to get involved as the action unfolds.
With conditions, momentum and match situations changing throughout the five days, keeping an eye on the live markets can often present opportunities that weren’t available before the first ball was bowled.
Disclaimer
Betting odds are subject to change. All selections and opinions are provided for informational purposes only. Please gamble responsibly. Betting is restricted to persons aged 18 and over.
