Gallo Images
” title=”South African batsman David Miller”
class=”js-imageLoader”
data-at-xn=” data-br-n=”
data-br-m=” data-br-w=”
data-br-xw=” onclick=”return false;”>
Related Articles
Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for South Africa v England in the first ODI in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Where to watch
Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 11am Friday
Best bets
David Miller top South Africa runscorer
1pt 6-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
Rassie van der Dussen to score under 29.5 runs
2pts 5-6 BoyleSports
Betting offers
- Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers and all you need is an account. Sign up here
- Sky Bet are offering new customers multiple free bets when they sign up. Click here for free bets, money-back specials and BuildABet free bets
- Betfair have lots of offers and money back offers. Sign up for a new account here
- To get free bets from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here
- Don’t have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here
- New William Hill customers can claim free bets and benefit from their daily offers including Scratch Of The Day by clicking here
South Africa v England preview
After last year’s T20 World Cup triumph, England’s white-ball cricketers are focusing on the 50-over format in 2023, starting with a three-match ODI series in South Africa.
England are 3-1 to retain their 50-over World Cup crown in India in the autumn and just 8-15 to win the first ODI against a Proteas side who are yet to seal qualification for the tournament.
South Africa’s puzzling one-day form is summed up by their last four home series in which they have thumped Australia and India 3-0 but lost 2-1 to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Their white-ball captain Temba Bavuma was not picked for the inaugural SA20, the country’s new Twenty20 competition which has been put on ice for a week while this series takes place, but he has a strong squad with which to take on the world champions.
England are missing two of their 2019 World Cup heroes as Jonny Bairstow is injured and Ben Stokes has retired from ODI duty but fast bowler Jofra Archer is available for his first international outing since March 2021.
With a home Ashes series and a World Cup on the horizon, Archer’s workload will be managed carefully although England’s bowlers should enjoy a crack at a flaky South Africa batting line-up.
The Proteas were rolled over for 83 in their most recent completed ODI against England, a rain-affected game at Old Trafford last July, and India bundled them out for 99 in October’s series decider in Delhi.
Bavuma’s men, 13-8 to win the opener in Bloemfontein, will hope to be more competitive at home but England consistently cause problems with the new ball and middle-order man David Miller looks worth backing to top-score for South Africa.
Miller has played some classic finisher’s innings for his SA20 side Paarl Royals, who have England’s Jos Buttler and Jason Roy at the top of their order, and his unbeaten 75 off 63 balls helped South Africa win the series opener in India.
Miller also made 79 in the first ODI of last year’s home series against Bangladesh, sharing a big stand with Rassie van der Dussen, who struck a century against England at Chester-le-Street last July.
However, Van der Dussen made nought and 26 in the next two games before breaking a finger in the Test series and he has looked in scratchy form in the SA20, grinding out 129 runs off 123 balls in seven innings. His runs line of 29.5 looks too high given the quality of England’s bowling.
Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips
Today’s top sports betting stories
Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport
The post South Africa v England first ODI predictions and cricket betting tips | Sport News appeared first on RT News Today.
