This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or click on a date below

Monday 29
Tuesday 30
Wednesday 31
Thursday 1
Friday 2
Saturday 3
Sunday 4
Monday 5
Tuesday 6
Wednesday 7
Thursday 8

South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20 Predictions & Tips - Markram to mark captaincy debut with a big score

By Ralph Staniforth

24 Mar 2023

Share

Ralph Staniforth 24 Mar 2023

Share this article

Watch South Africa vs West Indies in the 1st T20 on Saturday (12:00 GMT)
Hosts have won 4 of their last 5 against the visitors
Can Markram carry his SA20 form into the international arena?

Expired

Markram to top score for hosts (Getty Images)

South Africa vs West Indies Predictions

South Africa are heavy favourites at home so the value is in the run scoring markets. With the 2022 T20 World Cup the last time they both played this format, I am backing Aiden Markram to get among the runs for the hosts.

South Africa vs West Indies Predictions
Head to Head
South Africa Form
South Africa Injuries & Team News
West Indies Form
West Indies Injuries & Team News

South Africa have won 4 of their last 5 T20I matches against West Indies.
South Africa have lost their last 2 T20I matches.
South Africa’s Aiden Markram has scored 26+ in his last 3 T20 innings.
West Indies have lost 2 of their last 3 T20I matches.
West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran scored 39 & 39 runs in the last 2 ODIs.

Head to Head

South Africa have won four of their last five T20I matches against the West Indies. The last match ended in an eight-wicket win for the Proteas in 2021.

South Africa Form

South Africa won the Test series 2-0 against the West Indies before the two drew 1-1 in the ODI series.

The Proteas have not played T20I cricket since their failure to progress at the T20 Cricket World Cup in 2022. They suffered an embarrassing defeat against the Netherlands in their final group match which cost them a place in the semi’s.

With a new coaching staff in place South Africa will hope their T20 fortunes can change. There is no better place to start than against a West Indies side who they’ve dominated in the past.

South Africa Injuries & Team News

Aiden Markram will have his first taste of captaincy as he takes over from Temba Bavuma. Proteas have a strong squad which includes Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.

West Indies Form

Despite T20 being seen as the West Indies strongest format, the flamboyant islanders have not hit their best form for some time. They did not make it past the first round at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

The Windies lost to Scotland and Ireland during the qualifying round. Their victory over Zimbabwe only saved some face.

However, the West Indies showed some good fight in the recent ODI series against South Africa. They will hope to take that forward into the shortest format.

West Indies Injuries & Team News

Rovman Powell leads the Windies side for this series. Key players include Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran and Odean Smith. A number of the players featured in the SA20 earlier this year so conditions won’t be foreign to them.

Verdict

South Africa v West Indies - 1st Twenty20 Match

Aidan Markram and Nicholas Pooran is backed to top score for their respective sides.

Markram Over 23.5

Over/Under Runs

@5/6 - 3 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

Aidan Markram

Best South Africa Batsman

@11/5 - 1 Unit

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

Nicholas Pooran

Best West Indies Batsman

@3/1 - 1 Unit

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365