T20 World Cup Super 8s : USA vs South Africa - Tips and suggested bets

James Richardson
17 June 2024

We are into the Super 8s stage of the T20 World Cup and South Africa tackle the hosts United States in the first game of Group 2 on Wednesday, June 19 (1530 BST).

The USA was kind to South Africa when it came to laying on pitches that the Proteas quicks could really sink their teeth into, but that charitable spirit probably won't be carried into this Super 8s clash.

South Africa have looked vulnerable in every match they have played in this tournament despite holding an unbeaten record through the group stage.

The USA have been a revelation, but a one-off victory over Pakistan in a super over doesn't mean they are ready to duke it out with the powers of the game on a regular basis.

A couple of the USA team members, Andries Gous and Shadley van Schalkwyk are South African-born players with plenty of experience in the domestic game in their home country.

South Africa cannot afford any sort of rotation for the sake of workload management, but may want to consider bringing in an extra spin option with the expectation that the wickets in the Caribbean will play slower than those they experienced in the United States early in the tournament.

After a dreadful group stage for the top order, South Africa will be eager to provide their finishers, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller more to work with while also lightening their burden.

South Africa need to make quick adjustment to better surfaces for batting and find a way to put the hammer down through the powerplay which has been a weak area for them at the T20 World Cup when it is usually a strength.

The USA has a top order that is also capable of unleashing and the Proteas must guard against giving the underdogs anything to work with as they will grow in confidence the longer they can stay in the game.

Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards Stadium hasn't been a batter's paradise in the past with the highest successful chase at the ground being a modest target of 151, however, England's 122 for 5 in just 10 overs shows that the ground is probably playing above its usual par score right now.

USA vs South Africa suggested bets

Odds offered on the USA to score more runs than the misfiring Proteas top-order in the powerplay are enticing.

While they may not be able to get over the line, if South African bowlers stray a little they might find themselves outdone, particularly if the USA can snatch the wicket of Quinton de Kock early.

If the Proteas lose De Kock early, they will frequently go into their shells.

Heinrich Klaasen has frequently fallen trying to push the game forward in this tournament but he is due a big knock and if he has a decent platform he could really punish the USA attack.

This kind of wicket will suit the bowling of South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi, and he is the type of bowler who could pull tricks out of his hat that US players haven't seen. Shamsi is a good bet to end as South Africa's top wicket-taker in this match.

Saurabh Netravalkar is having a great World Cup and his variations should give him the tools to unpick the Proteas top order. Netravalkar looks likely to end up as the top wicket-taker from his team.