NEW ZEALAND v SOUTH AFRICA: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews the 2nd Test between New Zealand v South Africa with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

We’re back at Christchurch on Friday night (UK time) as New Zealand have a chance to land a Test series win against South Africa. We saw some dramatic market movements in the 1st Test on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as New Zealand bowled South Africa out for 95 on the first day! Although South Africa haven’t got the same quality of squad they have had in the past, any Test series win against them in always a big win for the opposition.

Both sides have very different mindsets going into this crunch game. It’s actually a big shame that we only have a two Test series – it would have been fantastic to have at least three but such is the International cricket schedule these days we have to settle for two. For New Zealand, they won’t change much – because of Covid19 and the bio-secure bubbles we are playing at the same venue. With the 1st Test going so ideally for New Zealand, they will want to keep things the same. For South Africa, it’s tempting to hit the panic button and change things up but the reality is they aren’t as bad as that 1st Test and they will want to restore some pride.

Conditions are expected to stay the same, and they are not unusual for South Africa. The ball can nip around just as easily in South Africa, so the two collapses were a little surprising. New Zealand were well on top with the bat though which is probably more of a worry for South Africa even allowing for the fact they were bowled out for 95 and 111. A massive Test match ahead though with everything on the line.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

New Zealand know conditions well at Christchurch and they have kept the same squad from the 1st Test. That basically means they haven’t added a spinner and they don’t expect to need one. Head coach Gary Stead confirmed this to Cricinfo so I wouldn’t expect to see a slow and low wicket here! I feel we’ll have the exact same conditions as the 1st Test, and it will be up to South Africa to see can they see off the excellent New Zealand bowling. South Africa might have learned how to bowl in the correct positions in the 1st Test, and they’ll be hoping they can make better use of conditions here.

RECOMMENDED BET:

Although I expect to see South Africa more in the game this time around, I still can only see one winner here and that’s New Zealand. It might have been the batters that took the blame for the 1st Test, but don’t forget New Zealand posted 482 runs in their first innings. That is such a gulf in scoring, especially when you consider that New Zealand were batting pretty early in the Test after South Africa only lasted 49.2 overs. The Test was gone when they rolled over in their second innings, but the bowling line-up is my main worry for South Africa here. If conditions are expected to stay the same, which they are, there’s only one winner here and that’s the home side. The 1.56 is worth a very rare max bet.

The Edge Says:
Five points win New Zealand to beat South Africa at 1.56 with BETDAQ Exchange.

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQNzSa

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

While the Covid19 rules are being relaxed around the world, we still have situations in the cricket world with a full series at the same venue. Sides are tending to same at the same venue for a Test, ODI or T20 series but moving as the format changes. That does give us an edge to see what conditions are like, and the New Zealand camp fully expect the same conditions here which I trust to be true. That means supporting the side bowling first is a good option, but I do have a major issue with the South African bowling so it’s wise to keep stakes to a minimum on that trade – whereas if it was New Zealand you’d be very confident that they can bowl New Zealand out for a low score again. I would focus most of my in-running trades around New Zealand here as they look the much stronger side!