Cricket: South Africa vs West Indies Test Series

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South Africa play West Indies in a 3 match series which begins in Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day.

Best odds/All odds South Africa 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.1 1.37 1.08 1.08 1.1 1.08 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.12 1.09 Draw 8.5 9.4 8.5 8 4.05 8 8 8.5 8 8.5 6.5 7 10 8.8 West Indies 17 14.5 15 15 11.5 17 17 17 17 15 17 15 16 17

December 2007

Wed 26 - Sun 30 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	1st Test - South Africa v West Indies St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
January 2008
Wed 2 - Sun 6 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	2nd Test - South Africa v West Indies Newlands, Cape Town
Thu 10 - Mon 14 10:00 local, 08:00 GMT	3rd Test - South Africa v West Indies Kingsmead, Durban

2 outrights for me in this series. 4pts South Africa to win series 3-0 11/8 Ladbrokes West Indies are a poor poor side and are in a bit of disarray really and it's hard to see them stopping this powerful South African side who are very good in their own back yard. West Indies have lost 8 out of 9 tests in South Africa and have lost 17 of their last 20 away from home so their chances of causing any kind of upset in this series is remote. West Indies go into this series with their captain Chris Gayle an injury doubt. Ramnaresh Sarwan is out of the series which means the only other batsman of any note is Shivnerine Chanderpaul. They do however have an improving and dangerous bowling attack as they showed in the Twenty20 match. South Africa beat New Zealand very comfortably and in Dale Steyn they have a real in form bowler who could run through this West Indian lineup. With the bat Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla were in excellent form against New Zealand but Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith's form could be much better. Between them they've only scored only one century in 79 innings. South Africa all round are a strong side though and even though their record at Port Elizabeth isn't the best, I think they'll win this series with a clean sweep. 3pts J.Kallis Top South African Series Batsman 2/1 Ladbrokes Jacques Kallis is in excellent form right now. He's top scored for South Africa in their last 2 test series, in Pakistan and at home to New Zealand. He hit 346 runs in 3 innings against the Kiwi's and 421 runs in 4 innings in Pakistan. Such is his good form he's hit half centuries in his last 8 matches and 5 centuries in his last 4 matches. To make things worse for the Windies, Kallis averages 77.33 against them in the 18 tests he's played against the men from the Caribbean. That includes 9 half centuries and 7 centuries so all the stats and the form suggests Kallis will take some stopping this series too.

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Re: Cricket: South Africa vs West Indies Test Series 3 for me in this 1st test. 10pts South Africa -90.5runs 1st Inns Lead 5/6 Sportingbet As I said in the series writeup's, West Indies come here with a pretty weak looking batting lineup and could well get blown away by the South African bowling attack. South Africa have some in form batsmen and Smith and Gibbs must get some form back soon as they are both classy players. Realistically I expect West Indies to be heavily outclassed in the series and that should mean that South Africa are well ahead at half time here at Port Elizabeth despite their relatively poor record there. 8pts D.Steyn Top South Africa Wicket Taker 15/8 Stan James Dale Steyn's a class act and he's finally beginning to show his worth at this level now too. He absolutely destroyed New Zealand on their tour of South Africa and he could well do something similar here. Steve Harmison proved that the Windies struggle to cope with real pace and that's just what Steyn has. PE should support the new ball bowlers 1st up and Dale Steyn will get the new ball and I'd expect him to take the most wickets in the 1st innings here. 5pts ew H.Amla Top South Africa Batsman 5/1 Boylesports (1/4 1,2,3) Hashim Amla is one of South Africa's 2 real in form men with the bat and given that he comes in at number 3 it's hard to see why he's such a price. He hit two good centuries in the test series against New Zealand and should be full of confidence coming here. He's a solid player who a bit like Laxman of India and Yousuf of Pakistan just occupies the crease rather than play outward, flamboyant shots. Once he's in he can be a real pain to shift and at 5/4 to make the top 3, he looks an each way bet to nothing.