Cricket
South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I Odds, Tips and Predictions
This is the final match of what has been an excellent T20I Series so far between two greats of international cricket, who have a deep rivalry, particularly when it comes to the shortest format of the game. Now that South Africa has already won the series, Pakistan is playing for pride, and to avoid white wash. The odds for this match are available at the top bookmaker websites, it’s time to consider who might come out on top in the last game of the contest.
Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan//Getty Images
We’re at Johannesburg for the third match, which takes place on Saturday, so keep on reading for the best South Africa v Pakistan predictions, remembering that you can place bets based on those tips at any of the sites for cricket betting that we recommend here.
South Africa vs Pakistan 3rd T20I match details
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Start Time: 6:00 p.m. local (4:00 p.m. GMT)
Venue: Johannesburg
Tournament: Bilateral Series.
Format: T20I
Odds and Betting Tips
Time to take a look at the South Africa v Pakistan forecast odds, which includes considering the relevant South Africa v Pakistan T20I win probability for both sides.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Proteas start favourites
• South Africa: 2.50 (implying a 40% win probability)
• Pakistan: 1.60 (implying a 62.5% win probability)
Best Betting Tip
A century to be scored in the match
The Wanderers at Johannesburg is one of the highest-scoring grounds in the world, with short straight boundaries and a fast outfield. More important than that though is the high altitude, which leads to the ball travelling faster and further than usual. All of which means scoring is easier and it would be no surprise if a batsman from either team gets to a century here at high odds.
Head-to-Head Record
A good starting point to getting our heads around the South Africa v Pakistan betting odds is to consider the head-to-head record between these two since they first played each other back in
They’ve played each other on 24 occasions and some of the games produced excellent contests that went down to the wire.
The first time they ever played each other in T20Is was way back in 2007 at the inaugural T20 World Cup when South Africa chased 130 without losing a wicket. Unsurprisingly, none of the players who were involved in that match still play.
Here’s a summary of the last five times they played each other.
Summary of the Last Five Matches
| Date | Winner | Manner of victory |
| 12th April 2021 | South Africa | 6 wickets |
| 14th April 2021 | Pakistan | 9 wickets |
| 16th April 2021 | Pakistan | 3 wickets |
| 3rd November 2022 | Pakistan | 33 runs via DLS Method |
| 10th December 2024 | South Africa | 11 runs |
| 13th December 2024 | South Africa | 7 wickets |
South Africa: Current Squad
Heinrich Klaasen (c), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, Rassie van der Dussen.
Key Players to Watch
Now you know the latest South Africa v Pakistan probability and odds, let’s consider who can be important players among the Proteas.
- Reeza Hendricks: The opener can occasionally blow hot and cold and inconsistency can be an issue for him at times because it’s never been his talent that’s been questioned. Hendricks has scored a match winning century yesterday against Pakistan, and is right up there with SA’s top run-getters in this format over the years.
- Rassie van der Dussen: Van der Dussen may be 35 already but he’s showing no signs of being any less potent than in previous years. His 200+ T20 matches have produced five centuries and 35 half-centuries so this is a man for who consistency is the name of the game and he’ll surely play his part in this one.
- David Miller: Another who isn’t getting any younger but the fact he still gets consistently picked for South Africa in white-ball cricket is testament to how highly rated he is with his big leg side hits, ability to manipulate the field and experience under pressure.
Pakistan: Current Squad
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk).
Key Players to Watch
And now let’s consider which three Pakistani batsmen can make a difference in this game.
- Mohammad Rizwan: Rizwan will be leading the team here, having only recently taken over from Babar Azam as captain. Rizwan has one of the best records in the game in T20Is with the bat, with the slog sweep and cut through point two of his signature shots.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: The tall left arm quick has developed into one of the most devastating fast bowlers in the game who can use both pace and variations to outfox batsmen. Many see him as a successor to the great Wasim Akram in terms of style and given he’s still young, he can only get better.
Value Bets
Heinrich Klassen- Player of the Match The skipper has made a habit of turning games on their heads with his powerful hits both sides of the wicket and boasts one of the best strike rates in the game, a, key ingredient for picking up Player of the Match awards.
Haris Rauf- Player of the Match - When it comes to awarding the Player of the match prize, great importance is given to the ones who take wickets at the top of the order and cam keep the runs down and with his express pace, Rauf ticks both boxes.
Top Batsman for both teams
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton
The Johannesburg-born keeper/batsman had to wait for his chance to play for South Africa but has made the most of it. So far, he’s only managed the one fifty from 12 T20Is but his T20 record in general shows he’s a very capable batsman with a decent strike rate of 137 and a century, plus 17 fifties, so it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark for his country, too, in this format. Scored a brilliant Test century just a week ago against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan: Babar Azam
Still only 22, he doesn’t have the star quality of the likes of Rizwan and Azam but a T20 strike rate of 138 is one of the best around. He's fresh off an unbeated 98 against the proteas in second t20i, and Pakistan will be relying on him to give a solid start.
South Africa vs Pakistan Team Prediction: Match Winner
South Africa
The Proteas have won three of their last four matches against Pakistan here at the Wanderers, proof that the altitude and unique ground dimensions take some getting used to for visiting teams. Remarkably, the last these two clashed here, South Africa chased 141 with an incredible 36 balls to spare. Since they've also won the series, they're strong favourites.
James has been writing about cricket, football and tennis betting for the best part of 20 years for some of the biggest operators, websites and publications in the industry. Heroes and heroines include Paul Scholes, Chris DiMarco, Anastasia Myskina, Richard Gasquet, Nat-Sciver Brunt and Kumar Sangakarra.