South Africa look to bounce back

Australia dominated the first one-day international to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series but though they look in control, experience tells us that one-day matches are notoriously volatile and there is no reason why South Africa cannot bounce back.

As Graeme Smith said after the defeat on Friday, one defeat does not make South Africa a bad side. Rather, that they will be doubly determined to get back on level terms by winning the second match, to be played in Durban on Sunday.

There is no doubt that as Australia's confidence rises, then they become that much more difficult to beat, but the two sides are very evenly matched - I would tend to side with whichever team bats first, to be honest, (even more so in day-night matches).

Bet365 have not been sucked in by the opening match result as they make both sides 10/11 to win the match.

Smith showed he is still in nice form with a half-century in match one and the captain is favourite to top-score for his side at 3/1. Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Hashim Amla are all 4/1 and Smith will hope at least one of them takes control of the match.

AB De Villiers and JP Duminy are each 5/1, while further down, Mark Boucher is 12/1, but the chances are that the leading scorer, as usual, will come from the top three in the order.

For Australia, captain Ricky Ponting is the obvious favourite again at 3/1, while Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin are 4/1. Michael Hussey and his brother David Hussey are each 5/1.

It is always difficult to suggest backing against the Aussies but this series has all the makings of being a ding-dong battle, so 10/11 is worth taking on South Africa squaring the series.