South Africa vs Pakistan first Test prediction and cricket betting tips

Where to watch South Africa vs Pakistan

Sky Sports Cricket, 8am Thursday

Best bet

Tristan Stubbs top South Africa first-innings runscorer
2pts 9-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

South Africa vs Pakistan prediction

South Africa are top of the ICC World Test Championship standings and a win in either of their two home matches against Pakistan would seal their place in next year's final at Lord's.

That is an impressive effort considering that the Proteas lost 2-0 in New Zealand in February, sending out virtually a third-string squad due to a clash with their domestic T20 competition.

South Africa have limited bowling options for the first Test in Centurion as a host of pacemen are injured and key spinner Keshav Maharaj is a fitness doubt.

Pakistan, who beat England 2-1 in October's home series on spin-friendly pitches, warmed up for the Test series with a 3-0 ODI clean sweep of their hosts last week.

They are capable of causing a minor upset but the best bet may be for South Africa's Tristan Stubbs to top-score for his side in the first innings.

Stubbs, a prodigious T20 talent, has enjoyed a breakthrough year in the longer formats. He was dismissed for three and one on his Test debut against India on a spicy Cape Town pitch in January but thumped 68 off 50 balls in his second appearance against the West Indies in August.

He scored his maiden ODI and Test centuries in October, against Ireland and Bangladesh, and followed up with a mature innings of 122 against Sri Lanka in last month's Durban Test match.

Click here for James Milton's preview of Australia vs India

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