Pakistan v South Africa predictions and cricket betting tips: Nortje a danger

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi on Tuesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Mix, 5am Tuesday

Best bet

Anrich Nortje top South Africa wicket-taker
1pt 4-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

First Test preview

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has called on his side to play "aggressive and fearless" cricket in their Test series with South Africa and recent showings suggest the Men in Green have plenty of room for improvement.

Azam's side go into their first home Test meeting with the Proteas since 2007 after starting the new year with a 2-0 series defeat to New Zealand in the same format.

They will hope for better upon their return to the subcontinent but their chances of victory over South Africa in Karachi could be severely hampered by their performances with the bat.

Pakistan posted totals of 239, 271, 297 and 186 in their four innings away to New Zealand, who themselves conjured up scores of 431, 180-5 declared and 659-6 declared on decent wickets.

Shan Masood, Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq have all been axed in a bid to improve those batting returns but Pakistan remain heavily reliant on skipper Azam for runs and it could pay to back a South Africa bowler to star.

Paceman Anrich Nortje only made his Test debut in October 2019 but has already excelled, taking eight wickets in the Proteas' most recent match with Sri Lanka after match figures of 3-135, 7-171, 1-97, 5-117 and 5-103 in his five games before that.

Kagiso Rabada is expected to play his first Test in nearly a year while Tabraiz Shamsi only has two Tests to his name so at 4-1 Nortje could be the player to back in the South Africa top wicket-taker market.

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