NEIL MANTHORP: Proteas lose underdog status
It happens at one stage or another for the South Africans
If it isn’t there before a World Cup then there comes a point during all of them at which the Proteas are suddenly regarded as favourites, or at least among them. When it was pointed out to captain Temba Bavuma after Sunday’s thrilling victory over India, he scowled. “We came into the tournament under the radar,” he replied ... and that is where he wanted to stay.
He doesn’t get a say in who the bookmakers and the public regard as the most likely winners because the bookmakers odds are guided as much by how much money punters are prepared to part with in pursuit of a winning bet. And more money has been placed on Bavuma’s team than any other in the hours since their five-wicket win in Perth which saw them put at least one foot in the semifinals. From 9/1 at the start of the tournament, they are now 4/1, just behind India at 3/1 and New Zealand at 7/2. ..
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