South Africa v West Indies: betting preview, TV channel, team news and tips

TV: Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 10.30am Monday

Hampshire Bowl, Southampton

South Africa won nine of their 12 group-stage matches at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups but the Proteas have made a dismal start to the 2019 edition, losing their first three games.

It hasn’t been an easy start – two of the defeats came against favourites England and a classy India side – but they were outplayed by 3-1 underdogs Bangladesh and may not find things easy against a resurgent West Indies in Hampshire.

The Windies demolished Pakistan in their opener and had Australia in huge trouble at 79-5 at Trent Bridge last time out.

The Aussies recovered to 288 and the West Indies ended up 15 runs short despite needing only 79 from the last 12 overs with five wickets in hand.

A more ruthless display in support of their fiery fast bowlers could spell serious trouble for the struggling Proteas.

Best bets
A patchy weather forecast and the fitness concerns over the West Indies’ key all-rounder Andre Russell mean pre-match stakes should be kept modest but the evens about the Windies still catches the eye.

Their fast bowlers have been devastating with the new ball, bowling out Pakistan for 105 and getting rid of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Glenn Maxwell in the first eight overs of Australia’s innings.

Steve Smith (73) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (92 off 60 balls from number eight) rescued the Aussies but South Africa lack the middle-order fortitude to recover if they lose early wickets.

Only three games into the tournament, the Proteas are facing questions about whether or not AB de Villiers offered to come out of retirement for the World Cup – and whether or not they should have accepted that offer given their brittle batting displays.

Just three of their batsmen have passed 50 in the defeats to England, Bangladesh and India. Quinton de Kock’s 68 is their highest score of the tournament.

The Windies, in contrast, showed the depth of their batting talent in a run-laden drawn series with England earlier this year and would have nailed a chase of 289 against Australia but for some poor shot selection and the untimely run-out of Shimron Hetmyer.

Hashim Amla’s struggles at the top of the order have epitomised South Africa’s poor start and the veteran should be backed to fall short of bet365’s runs line of 31.5.

That line is six runs higher than Paddy Power’s mark for Amla, who was struck on the head by a Jofra Archer bouncer in his first innings of the tournament and is sure to be tested by some short stuff from the Windies too.

Amla made 13 against England, caught behind off a short ball from Liam Plunkett, and was dismissed for just six against India during Jasprit Bumrah’s hostile opening spell.

He started 2019 with a century against Pakistan but passed 25 only once in six subsequent innings and may struggle again.

Recommendations
West Indies
2pts Evs general
H Amla to score 31 runs or fewer
2pts 10-11 bet365

Team news
South Africa
Paceman Lungi Ngidi is a major doubt but Beuran Hendricks – called up to replace the injured Dale Steyn – is pushing for a start.

West Indies
Andre Russell’s ongoing knee problem will be assessed.

Venue
The Hampshire Bowl is a great batting venue – England and Pakistan’s clash in May produced 734 runs – but the new ball caused serious problems in India’s win over South Africa last week.

Weather
A clear morning but showers likely to disrupt play in the afternoon, 15C.

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