Australia vs South Africa - Second ODI Tips, Odds, Predictions

Australia and South Africa will play the second ODI of their three-match series in MacKay on Friday. Use our expert betting advice for this important middle fixture. We have highlighted our best betting tips for this contest.

Australia vs South Africa – Second ODI Tips and Predictions

Our top betting tips and predictions for this second ODI should offer you plenty of help. We know the form of the batters, bowlers and all-rounders involved in this fixture – and have the probable XIs and head-to-head records. This updated information can inform your betting choices. Explore more about our best bets for this match.

Alex Carey for Top Australia Batter

Carey has scored the most ODI runs for Australia in 2025 and will be determined to recover after a first-ball duck in the series opener. Bet on him to be his team’s leading run-scorer in this match at 8.00 with Unibet – long but worthwhile odds. He is under increasing pressure from Josh Inglis, who not only is a good wicketkeeper like Carey, but can bat a lot higher up the order. Regardless. Carey is a reliable run-scorer and should be in for a big performance, especially if those ahead of him don’t do well, as was the case in Cairns. The more time he will have at the crease, the more bandwidth he’ll have to succeed.

8.00 with Unibet Read Unibet Review

Aiden Markram for Player of the Match

Our experts suggest you go for the Proteas all-rounder in the player of the match markets for this fixture. Markram is priced at 12.00 with bet365 in this market – and this could offer you a lot of value. He will go into this second ODI on the back of a near century in the first and, as a bowler, has knack of nipping out key wickets on slightly slower pitches, which you could expect in Mackay. You’ve seen it with Glenn Maxwell and other makeshift all-rounders and can anticipate it with Markram – all-rounders who can succeed with bat and/or ball are the way to go in player of the match markets.

12.00 with bet365 Read bet365 Review

Ben Dwarshuis for Top Australia Bowler

Dwarhuis has taken the most wickets for Australia in ODIs this year. At attractive odds of 4.33 with Unibet, he’s a promising pick for Australia’s top bowler in this match as well. He is averaging two wickets per ODI in 2025 – a marvelous ratio in a tricky format – and took two more in the series opener. Dwarshuis is rising to the fore in absence of Cummins and Starc, pushing his way up the pecking order among Australia’s seam-bowling bench strength. Now is a good time to capitalise on his form, as he looks to outfox the Proteas batters with late swing through the air and lateral movement – both ways – off the seam.

4.33 with Unibet Read Unibet Review

Australia vs South Africa Odds

It’s important to get the best odds for your wagers on the second ODI. It is always worthwhile comparing prices with the best cricket betting sites. Doing this can give you an advantage and make sure you get more returns should your bet be successful.

The bookies have priced Australia as the favourites for this match despite their defeat in the series opener. You can bet on the Aussies to win at 1.53 with Unibet. But if you reckon the Proteas could beat Australia againt, the visitors are priced the highest at 2.62 with bet365.

Second ODI

Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

Australia

Home: 1.53

vs.

22/08/2025
14:30

South Africa

Away: 2.62

Bookmaker	Home	Away
bet365	1.50	2.62
Unibet	1.53	2.50
Palmerbet	1.51	2.55

Australia vs South Africa Betting Preview

South Africa bounced back from their defeat in the preceding T20I series against the same opposition with a dominant win in the first ODI. Now, they have the opportunity to complete an early ODI series victory, while Australia will attempt to keep the three-match contest alive.

Conditions were a relative unknown in Cairns and it’ll be the same in Mackay, which will host an ODI for the first time in more than 30 years. Both teams will need to assess, understand and adapt to how the pitch will play quickly.

There were 49 overs of spin in the series opener, leaving plenty of intrigue around around the composition of the bowling attacks for this follow-up fixture. Granted, it is at a different venue, but it’s another ground lined with unfamiliar variables for the players.

Keshav Maharaj will be a significant threat to the Australians again. He was all but unplayable during the first half of his 10-over allotment in the series opener. Maharaj recently returned to top spot in the International Cricket Council’s rankings for ODI bowlers – and for good reason.

Mitchell Marsh will expect a lot of himself at the top of the home order again, but the captain needs a lot more from the middle. Batters three to seven shared just 13 runs in Cairns, where an overreliance on Marsh and Travis Head was too obvious.

This is sure to be a cracking fixture. Odds of a South African victory have shortened, while prices for an Australian win have lengthened. Beside the outright match markets, there is plenty of value to explore in other batting, bowling and player of the match markets for this showdown in Mackay.

Team News

The Aussies must continue to play without Lance Morris, Matthew Short and Mitchell Owen, who have all been sidelined by injury. Those are big absences in their bowling, batting and all-rounder departments.

South Africa will be without spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who has been reported for a suspect bowling action. He will likely be replaced in the XI by fellow spinner Senuran Muthusamy or fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, subject to the conditions in Mackay.

Predicted Line-ups

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger.

Betting Statistics

These important numbers could help your betting for the second ODI between Australia and South Africa even more. At AussieBet, our experienced team of betting experts aim to give you great insight as often as possible. Use this valuable information.

South Africa have won five of their last six – and eight of their last 11 – ODIs against Australia
This will be the first ODI at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay since 1992
The team to win the toss will likely choose to bat first

Where to Bet on the second ODI

Use these best betting sites for wagering on Australia vs South Africa in the second ODI. A particularly good site is bet365 – they have a wide range of markets, competitive odds, a great app and live streaming service. But you are not limited to just bet365. You can also use other bookies in this top five list, too. Look at all their value adds.