England finish their tour of South Africa on Sunday afternoon with a second T20 international. Having lost the opening T20 by the narrowest of margins Eoin Morgan’s men will be looking to level the small series in Johannesburg.
The two sides will next meet in the group stage of the World T20 so Faf du Plessis and his men will be out to rub England’s noses in it here especially as they know they got out of jail in the opening game when it looked like their batsmen were going to mess up a strong position at half way.
Before the series began Faf du Plessis, the South African skipper, said that the focus was on preparation for the World T20 but his tune seems to have changed since that win in Cape Town on Friday and now it is all about disintegrating England mentally.
We’ll only really know which plan is in operation when South Africa name their team. If this match is about preparation for what is to come then Farhaan Behardien could come into the side, as could Aaron Phangiso. They don’t need to change a winning side though.
England will probably still be wondering how they threw Friday’s opening match away although at half time if you had said they would take it to the last ball and be in with a chance most would have signed up to it. Their batting has tailed off alarmingly in recent matches. It needs to come to the party here to have any chance.
England generally like to give a side that loses the chance to redeem themselves but this is their final match before they arrive in India for the World T20 so a couple of changes wouldn’t be a complete surprise. Reece Topley could be taken out of the firing line after a difficult match in Cape Town.
The Wanderers in Johannesburg is where England’s tour concludes. The Bullring is the perfect venue for T20. The ball flies in the altitude and the conditions are usually excellent for batting. Scores of 200+ are becoming the norm here. In fact in the last match here West Indies chased down 231 with balls to spare.
That was a rare defeat for South Africa on this ground. Overall they have 10 wins from 14 contests on this ground but England have won the only match they have played here so both sides will feel quite comfortable.
I’m going to chance England again in this match. They should have won the ODI on this ground and they should have won the first T20 so although they have now lost four matches in a row it isn’t like they are getting blown away or anything.
Whenever a tournament is coming up and there is an urge to make changes it is always easier to maintain focus on the game ahead when you are behind in a series so I will take England to do that here. Once again their lengthy batting line up should come into play especially on a ground like this.
I’m also going to go at the sixes. We never really got going in terms of six hitting in the ODI here earlier in the tour although in that match Chris Morris showed the potential for them to be hit. I’m expecting a real runfest here so I’m also expecting the sixes to fly and fly regularly.
Neither bowling attack is up to much and the hitters keep on coming in both batting line ups so this tour can end with a barrage of sixes in an exciting game of cricket.
I’ll also chance an England top batsman where Jos Buttler simply has to be overpriced at 15/2. He top scored in the first game and this ground isn’t nearly big enough to contain him so whatever he ends up chasing will be well within his reach.
We saw him at his destructive best early on in the ODI series and if England can set this up properly some Buttler fireworks could ensue and that carnage can deliver back to back top scores for the Lancashire man.
Back England to win 2nd T20 for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Paddy Power
WON – Back J.Buttler Top England Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 with Paddy Power
Back them here:
WON – Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
