Ireland vs South Africa 1st ODI Location: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Ireland vs South Africa 1st ODI Date: Wed, Oct 2
BetXchange Ireland vs South Africa 1st ODI Odds:
History
Ireland and South Africa will play three ODIs in Abu Dhabi starting Wednesday and running through the following Monday. All three matches will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. The three ODIs will follow two keenly fought T20Is last weekend. Despite the location in the Middle East, these are considered home matches for Ireland.
This is the second series of white ball matches South Africa will play in the UAE during this trip. The team is coming into this off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Afghanistan in ODIs, with the Afghanis beating the Proteas in the first two matches to clinch the series with one match to spare.
The T20I series between Ireland and South Africa finished in a 1-1 draw. South Africa dominated in the first T20I, holding Irlenad to 171 runs from their 20 overs. The Proteas always looked to have the required runs in their chase, finishing at 174/2 inside 18 overs. Ryan Rickelton did the most damage, slugging 76 from 48 balls and always keeping the Irish on the back foot.
In the second T20I went the other way. South Africa won the toss and elected to field for the second time running, but this time, the Irish could get up to 195 from their 20 overs. The show’s star was Ross Adair, with the Irishman scoring his first century in T20Is and finishing on precisely 100 runs from 58 balls. South Africa was game in the chase but lost wickets every time it looked like a partnership was about to develop. They could only produce 185/9, falling short of the Irish total by ten runs.
This was Ireland’s first victory over South Africa in T20I play, and they will be looking to pick up at least one win in the ODIs to round off a successful series.
Ireland
Andy Balbirnie will come into the side after being left out of the ODIs. He is an experienced campaigner, and now he has a point to prove if he wants to muscle his way back into the starting lineup of the other white ball format. Expect him to play well here.
South Africa
Ottneil Baartman will have an interesting role for South Africa in this series. This team is still shorn of much of its top talent, especially with the ball. Players like Baartman will be expected to step up, with some thinking that he will be the best bowler on show for the Proteas throughout this series. If you like Baartman to hit the ground running here, he is the 9/4 third favorite behind Lungi Ngidi (9/5) and Nandre Burger (9/4).
Best Bets
Rickelton was South Africa’s best run-getter in the T20Is, with 112 through the two matches. He is 14/5 to be the best batter for the visitors in this match. I also like Mark Adair as Ireland’s top bowler. He sits as the favorite at 47/20, coming off a five-wicket haul in the shorter format game.
