England vs South Africa Second ODI Preview – Copybet
England were dismal in the first of the three ODIs against South Africa, being bowled for 131 at Headingley on Tuesday.
The visitors chipped it off with a minimum of fuss, with debutant Sonny Baker taking a battering for the hosts.
He finished with figures of 0-76 from his seven overs while the Proteas needed just 20 overs to reach their target.
Perhaps the most concerning thing for England was the speed with which their batting lineup collapsed.
They were cruising along fairly comfortably at 82/2 after just over 13 overs before Harry Brook’s run out shifted the game completely and they lost eight wickets for 49 runs.
They need to get back to their best at Lord’s as they aim to avoid South Africa taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
England vs South Africa
There was no fluke about South Africa’s dominant victory at Headingley in the first game.
England’s batting lineup looked undercooked and after a few flashy drives early on, they crumbled.
The Proteas have a very solid bowling attack and may be able to supplement it even further with star man Kagiso Rabada potentially featuring as he returns from an ankle injury.
England are down to eighth in the ICC ODI rankings and showed little on Tuesday to disprove that.
Many of their players were fresh from playing in The Hundred and struggled to adjust their batting mentality for the extra overs.
South Africa have now won five of the last six ODIs between these two teams and the last time that they played at Lord’s, they beat Australia in the World Test Championship final.
The visitors look good value as outsiders to make it 2-0, particularly if Rabada plays.
England vs South Africa
Brook was right to feel a little hard done by with his dismissal in the first game between these two at Headingley when he was turned back by Jamie Smith, only to be run out.
The England captain is good at putting disappointments behind him, however and with the overcast conditions at Lord’s likely to make life difficult for openers, he could flourish in the middle overs.
Brook made 58, 47 and 26 not out against the West Indies earlier this summer and could top score for the hosts in this one.