South Africa vs India Second T20I: Tips and suggested bets
Planet Sport offers tips and suggested bets for the second T20I clash between South Africa and India on Tuesday 12 December.
The series remains all square after the opening match was rained off without a ball being bowled.
India are probably the side that is really itching to get going, given they have the edge when it comes to momentum, having won the series prior against Australia and facing a South African side that hasn't played a T20I since their own clash with the Aussies in September.
The match will go down as just the fourth T20I at St George's Park, with South Africa winning their last two matches at the venue after a defeat in their maiden international in the format at the Eastern Cape ground. India have not played a T20I at St George's Park.
South Africa vs India Second T20I: Suggested bets
South Africa start as underdogs on home soil, even against an inexperienced India squad, which speaks to their struggles in the format.
Aiden Markram may not have played any T20I cricket at St Goerge's Park, but skipped the SA20 Sunrisers who were based at the ground. Markram has been incredibly consistent in his contributions in T20I cricket and will want to play the captain's knock again in his first St George's Park outing.
While Markram has motivation, India's Ruturaj Gaikwad has the confidence that comes from smashing a T20I century. He might not find the wicket conducive to coming out all guns blazing, but if he plays an intelligent innings he might be the matchwinner for his side.
Tabraiz Shamsi will be tough to handle even for a side familiar with quality spin and he too has a lot of franchise experience of visiting St George's. Shamsi went wicketless in his only T20I at St George's but had his opponents in defensive mode, returning figures of 0/17 from his four.
South Africa took to Australia's leg-spinner Adam Zampa on their last visit, but they may want to be careful when looking to attack against Ravi Bishnoi. He claimed scalps in each of the five T20Is against Australia and the often sluggish St George's Park wicket might make him very difficult to launch.
His wrong-un brings the stumps into play all the time, and he is really good at turning it both ways. Like a lot of wrist spinners, he gets a fair few batters caught in the deep.