South Africa vs Afghanistan prediction and betting odds: ICC World Cup 2023

South Africa and Afghanistan will face each other in the last group match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Friday, November 10, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams have contrasting fortunes in the tournament so far, with South Africa already securing a semi-final spot and Afghanistan needing a win to keep their hopes alive. Here is a preview of the match, along with the prediction and betting odds.

Match Preview

South Africa have been one of the most impressive teams in the World Cup, winning five out of their six matches and losing only to India by a huge margin. The Proteas have been led by their captain Quinton de Kock, who is the top run-scorer of the tournament with 550 runs, including two centuries and three fifties. He has been well supported by the likes of Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Rassie van der Dussen, who have all scored over 200 runs. South Africa’s bowling has also been effective, with Josh Hazlewood leading the wicket-takers’ list with 18 scalps, followed by Kasun Rajitha with 15. The Proteas have shown their ability to adapt to different conditions and situations, and will be confident of ending their group campaign on a high.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have had a mixed run in the World Cup, winning three and losing three matches. The Afghans have been reliant on their spinners, especially Mohammad Nabi, who has taken 14 wickets and also scored 198 runs. Their batting has been inconsistent, with only Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah crossing the 200-run mark. Zadran scored a brilliant unbeaten 129 in their last match against Australia, but it was not enough to prevent a three-wicket loss. Afghanistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals now depend on beating South Africa and hoping that Pakistan lose to New Zealand in their last match.

Prediction and Betting Odds

South Africa are the clear favorites to win this match, as they have a superior record and form against Afghanistan. The Proteas have won all four of their previous ODIs against the Afghans, including a nine-wicket win in the 2019 World Cup. South Africa have also been more consistent and balanced in their performance, while Afghanistan have been prone to collapses and errors. The betting odds for South Africa to win are 1.31, while the odds for Afghanistan are 3.58.

However, Afghanistan cannot be written off completely, as they have shown some glimpses of brilliance and resilience in the tournament. The Afghans have beaten teams like England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and have given tough fights to Australia and India. They have a potent spin attack, which can trouble the South African batsmen on a turning track. They also have some explosive hitters, who can change the course of the game in a few overs. The betting odds for Afghanistan to score over 250 runs are 2.50, while the odds for South Africa to score under 300 runs are 1.80.

Conclusion

South Africa vs Afghanistan is a match that can have a significant impact on the semi-final qualification scenario of the World Cup. South Africa will look to maintain their momentum and form, while Afghanistan will look to pull off an upset and keep their hopes alive. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two contrasting styles of cricket.