South Africa vs Pakistan Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2nd Test
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The world-famous Newlands provides a perfect setting for the second Test of this series as newly confirmed World Test Championship finalists South Africa look to sweep Pakistan.
Date/Time: Friday January 3rd 2025: US PST – 12:30am / US EST – 3:30am / UK – 8:30am
Venue: World Sports Betting Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
Weather: No disruptions expected across the scheduled five days of play, with plenty of sunshine on the cards and temperatures mainly in and around the mid-twenties.
How To Watch On TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Willow TV
How To Watch Online: UK – Sky Go / US – Willow TV
South Africa Form: Five in a row guarantees a shot at major honour
Whilst they made it hard for themselves in the fourth innings, South Africa eventually completed a run chase of 148 with just two wickets remaining to seal a fifth straight Test triumph, this one against a fighting Pakistan side. This victory was enough to confirm the Proteas’ qualification through to the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June 2025, which will represent their latest chance to finally win a major ICC honour following numerous white ball World Cup heartaches.
LAST THREE: WWW
Pakistan Form: Abbas masterclass not enough to save visitors
Pakistan had been behind the eight-ball all game in the first Test after giving up a 90-run lead after two innings of play. Defending 148 was always going to prove difficult, albeit on a pitch offering assistance to the seam and swing bowlers. But Mohammad Abbas singlehandedly kept the tourists in the hunt, taking regular wickets. In the end though, it wasn’t to be as South Africa edged home despite Abbas’ six-wicket-haul.
LAST THREE: LWW
South Africa Betting Analysis
It remains to be seen what sort of pitch we will see at Newlands, but the weather forecast would suggest a good batting surface that could break up due to the expected sunshine and prove conducive to spin as the Test rumbles on. It is possibly no coincidence that South Africa have brought the now fully-fit Keshav Maharaj back into the side and he may have a big part to play. Bettors should explore backing Maharaj to accumulate over 3.5 match wickets across the Test.
Pakistan Betting Analysis
Even on a flat surface, Mohammad Abbas can prove a nightmare for opposition batters due to his unrelenting line and length. Such accuracy can be rewarded on any sort of pitch and following a brilliant individual performance last time out, the experienced Pakistan bowler is well worth backing to register another 5+ wickets over the course of this encounter.
South Africa vs Pakistan Expert Prediction
South Africa are an intimidating prospect on home soil and are finding ways to win at all costs in Test match cricket, which is testament to their current red ball winning streak. There’s no doubt that Pakistan are more than capable of giving them another big challenge this time around, as they did in the first Test. But with form in their favour, backing the Proteas appears the sensible route to take.
South Africa vs Pakistan Tip: South Africa to win
