Cricket Betting - Kiwis could end Proteas’ trophy dreams

The thought of South African cricket being in such a poor state that we face the prospect of the host being bundled out of the Champions Trophy in just two matches is almost unthinkable.

But that is where we stand at the moment following the Proteas abysmal performance in the opening match against Sri Lanka.

If not for rain, the humiliation of a 55-run defeat could have been much worse, and the South African players know that all too well.

New Zealand now has the opportunity to pounce on wounded prey and dispatch South Africa from yet another ICC event before their time.

Daniel Vettori needs to enforce to his chargers that nothing short of a win will do. Graeme Smith will be, or needs to be, drumming this same fact into his team that failed to chase down 319.

Not only were their bowlers guilty of failing to adjust their line and length, their batsmen were guilty of throwing away their wickets in a run chase that wasn’t all that difficult.

Smith himself is guilty of throwing away a chance to score a big century while Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy also need to have along hard look in the mirror at their respective performances.

The bowling stocks may be improved with Wayne Parnell certain for the cutting room floor in favour of the experienced Makhaya Ntini.

It is rumoured that NZ will field seven batsmen with Vettori at number eight meaning that they expect a big run chase. The Black Caps will want to ensure that no matter what happens, their top order fires.

There is no point having players like Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder in the team if they are sitting in the pavilion. If the Kiwis are to win they will need either one of these big hitters to emulate Tillakaratne Dilshan and score a big century straight up.

Bowlers such as Shane Bond and Darryl Tuffey need a target to bowl at and although Vettori can swing a match with his tight bowling, he will need at least one of his quicks to bag some early wickets to make a contest of it.

The bookmakers have installed the Proteas as favourites at –260 while the Kiwis are great value at +200.

While the South Africans will no doubt rebound from their initial loss, don’t be scared to throw some money at the Kiwis, after all, they are the ones who have just finished playing on similar pitches in Sri Lanka while the Proteas have been sitting on their hands for the past month in preparation for a tournament that they need to win if they want to be respected as the best team in the world.

It’s a title that is quickly slipping through their grasp