South Africa and Sri Lanka get their respective World Cup campaigns going in Delhi on Saturday and we take a look at the Proteas opening match from a betting angle.

The Proteas are currently trading at 8/1 to win the World up and their opponents, Sri Lanka are considered rank outsiders at 33/1.

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SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s last ODI Series was a come from behind 3-2 victory over Australia.  The Australians had won the first two ODI’s by 3 wickets and 123 runs and few would have backed South Africa to reel off the next 3 ODI’s for a series win, but they did just that winning by 111 runs, 164 runs, and 122 runs with their bowlers showing they are well capable of defending most totals.

South Africa have a shaky World Cup record and they have never won the ODI World Cup despite going in heavily fancied on occasions.

Temba Bavuma captains the side and all eyes will be on the in-form Heinrich Klaasen with the bat and Kagiso Rabada with the ball who I feel needs to fire if South African is to go deep.

Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams

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SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka have been in excellent ODI form of late with an 87% win rate in their last 16 ODI’s.  They played a couple of warm-up matches in getting ready for the Tournament, beating Bangladesh by 7 wickets and Afghanistan by 6 wickets.

Sri Lanka have reached the final of the World Cup three times, winning in 1996 and then finishing runners-up in 2007 and 2011.

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (C), Kusal Mendis (VC), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

BETTING – Click here to bet

South Africa 40/85

Sri Lanka 7/4

I am expecting South Africa to win this game, but the current prices are a bit short for my pocket and I am looking elsewhere for a betting interest.

Suggested Bet:  Heinrich Klaasen, Total Runs over 27.5 at 17/20

Klaasen is playing brilliant cricket at the moment and I am looking for a big knock from him in the opener.

Suggested Bet:  Top Match Bowler, Tabraiz Shamsi at 9/2

Shamsi is the sort of bowler who is often amongst the wickets as the opposition feel obliged to go after him.  He is a very intelligent bowler though and can lure batsmen into playing reckless shots.

Click here for betting on all of the Cricket World Cup matches

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change