Previews

England in the driving seat

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 27/11/2009
Cricket betting

England face South Africa on Friday at Newlands in Cape Town as they look to grab a second one-day international victory following their excellent win last Sunday in Centurion.

This will be the third ODI with England holding a 1-0 lead after the first clash at Wanderers was washed out.

The coin toss this time could prove vital with the majority of the second innings likely to be played under the lights.

The hosts are the overwhelming sportsbook favourites to tie the five-game series but, with Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott looking in imperious touch last weekend, the hosts know they will have a tough test on their hands.

With the re-emergence of Kevin Pietersen, the inspired and exuberant Eoin Morgan and captain marvel Andrew Strauss leading the top-end of the batting, England have a great chance to succeed once more and recent history is on their side.

They have won six of their last seven finished contests and this could indeed suggest some measure of consistency is apparent as fluidity and rhythm is finding a place in their line-up.

Can England overcome the odds and grab a 2-0 series lead against South Africa? - Latest Cricket Betting

Last time out, Graeme Smith and his Proteas outfit found themselves restricted to 250-9 from their 50 overs with captain Smith (57) and Alviro Petersen (64) the only two hitting worthwhile totals as they struggled to grab hold of England's medium-paced seam attack in the middle stages of their innings.

Collingwood, Trott and Luke Wright bowled 20 overs between them and conceded just 73 runs in the process - an average of just 3.65 runs per over - a figure more often witnessed on the Test arena.

This seriously stymied the hosts and England capitalised.

Trott kept his head alongside Collingwood in the middle and their superlative third-wicket stand of 162 simply eased the game away from the disappointing Proteas.

Another Morgan cameo (27 from 18) wrapped up the win with 24 balls remaining and seven wickets in hand.

Finally England now have a ruthless look to them after tinkering with their team over recent years and Strauss is likely to keep the same side, although spinner Adil Rashid only bowled two overs in the game, so he may make way if conditions dictate any decisions.

Smith may make changes to his line-up with Herschelle Gibbs already being called upon to replace the injured Jacques Kallis and calls for the inclusion of Loots Bosman have been heard following his excellent performances in the two Twenty20 clashes earlier in the tour.

An England reprisal will guarantee a drawn series at the very least, but a South African reprieve will surely make for a tantalising conclusion to the series ahead of the first Test that begins on December 16 at Centurion.

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