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South Africa vs Pakistan 1st T20 Predictions & Tips - Rizwan and Azam too good for South Africa

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 09 Apr 2021

Ralph Staniforth 09 Apr 2021

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South Africa vs Pakistan predictions for Saturday's 1st T20 cricket clash
The match will be played at the Wanderers at 14:30 SAST
Mohammad Rizwan has scored 40+ runs in his last 3 T20I matches
I'm tipping Pakistan to win the 1st T20
Betting tips, predictions and team news for South Africa vs Pakistan

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South Africa vs Pakistan Predictions

South Africa’s T20 form is far from good and they are missing five first choice players for this series. That, along with the form of the Pakistan batsmen, gives the visitors a clear advantage. My best bet is a Pakistan victory in Johannesburg.

South Africa have lost 9 of their last 11 T20I matches.
South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks has scored 52 & 42 runs in 2 of his last 3 T20I matches.
South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks has been the top team run scorer in 2 of their last 3 T20I matches.
Pakistan have won 7 of their last 10 T20I matches.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan has scored 104, 52 & 42 runs in his last 3 T20I matches.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam is ranked as the 4th best T20I batsman in the world.
Pakistan's Babar Azam has scored 103, 31 & 92 runs in his last 3 limited overs matches.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam averages 48.05 in T20I cricket.

Head to Head

Pakistan have won three of their last five T20I fixtures against South Africa.

In February 2021, Pakistan beat South Africa 2-1 in a three-match series in Pakistan.

South Africa Form

South Africa suffered a 2-1 defeat in their recently completed three-match ODI series against Pakistan. They will want to rectify that in the shortest format but come up against a very strong outfit.

In the T20 format, South Africa have lost nine of their last 11 matches, which will be a major concern with the T20 Cricket World Cup later this year.

The Proteas lost their last T20 series which was also against Pakistan. In that series, Reeza Hendricks showed some consistency with scores of 52 and 42 runs in the first two matches. His form is worth backing with so many top players missing.

South Africa Injuries & Team News

South Africa will play this series without Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortjie. They are all in India for the IPL.

Temba Bavuma will captain his first T20I after taking over the role after the last series.

Pakistan Form

Pakistan come into this T20 series full of confidence after beating South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series. They know the hosts are missing top players and will want to take advantage of that.

Seven of Pakistan’s last 10 T20I fixtures have ended in victory which has placed them fourth in the world rankings. Mohammad Rizwan did not have the best time of it during the ODI series but his T20 form has been superb of late.

In their most recent T20I series against South Africa, Rizwan scored 104, 51 and 42 runs. There are other options in the batting markets with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman both scoring big runs in the ODI series against the hosts.

It may be worth waiting to see if Zaman starts in the opening match before backing him.

Pakistan Injuries & Team News

Pakistan have a full strength side available but have a few tough selection calls. Mohammad Rizwan has played exceptionally well in the shortest format, but Fakhar Zaman scored back-to-back centuries in the ODI series.

They could open the batting together but that would mean Haider Ali moves down the order. Babar Azam is likely to bat at three even though he has been used as an opening batsman in T20 cricket recently.

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Verdict

South Africa v Pakistan

South Africa have been defeated in nine of their last 11 T20 fixtures and have a weakened squad to choose from for this series. I'm tipping Pakistan to win the opener, Mohammad Rizwan to score over 25.5 runs, and Babar Azam to be the top Pakistan run scorer on the day. For South Africa, Reeza Hendricks is backed to top score after a good T20 series against Pakistan the last time the sides met.

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