After disappointing Champions Trophy campaigns for them both, England and South Africa will look to move on from that over the next week as they meet in three T20 internationals ahead of the longer form of the game coming into the spotlight next month.
Schedule
1st T20: June 21 at Southampton
2nd T20: June 23 at Taunton
3rd T20: June 25 at Cardiff
England
The world T20 finalists England look to show off their 20 over prowess in these three matches and if they can do that against a talented South Africa side then we really will know that they are the real deal in this format of the game. England will have to shrug off the disappointment and the questions of their failed Champions Trophy campaign.
England go into this match off the back of three defeats in their last four matches in this format though so while they had that excellent run in India last year time waits for nobody it would seem. In home conditions and in blinding hot weather there will be an expectation on England to entertain in these matches.
South Africa
One of the biggest surprises of the Champions Trophy was the early exit of South Africa and in truth they never got going in that tournament once and I’m sure there will be an intention to put that right in these three matches although it must be said they have a much different squad out here than in that event.
South Africa haven’t had the best 2017 in this format so far. They lost a home series against Sri Lanka despite holding a 1-0 lead and while they won in New Zealand that doesn’t really count for a lot. In theory South Africa should be a powerful nation in this format of the game and they have the chance to show that here.
Head to Head
These two sides have met 11 times in the 20 over format and it is South Africa who hold the upper hand with seven wins to England’s four. England won their last meeting though which was a very significant one as it was in the World T20. England chased down 230 on that occasion and this series could be just as high scoring.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
This isn’t the easiest series to bet on. South Africa go into the series depleted while England have some players for the early part of it and then a load more come in as senior players leave to take part in the day-night round of Championship matches next week.
With that in mind I’m going to take it easy but there is one bet that I like and it comes in the South Africa batting market where there is no Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis or Quinton de Kock in this series. AB de Villiers skippers the side but I’m far from convinced he is going to play all three matches so I’m looking at the other senior man in the batting line up.
David Miller ploughed in a load of runs at Southampton in the ODI series between these two and scored well in the Champions Trophy. He is a clean hitter of the ball who has scored well at Cardiff in 20 over cricket in the past and we know Taunton isn’t big enough to contain him. With him already having runs at the Ageas Bowl on this tour too he looks a decent bet at 4/1 to top score for the tourists across these three matches.
Tips
Back D.Miller Top South Africa Series Batsman for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Coral
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
