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England v South Africa Twenty20 Betting

ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA - TWENTY20 BETTING - 20th AUGUST

England (11/10 with Paddy Power) takes on South Africa (8/11 with William Hill) in this Twenty20 match at Durham’s Riverside Ground. A sell-out crowd is expected for this increasingly popular and entertaining new format. Kevin Pietersen, England’s recently appointed captain is favourite to top-score for England, at 100/30 with Stan James.

Nottinghamshire left-arm seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of Wednesday’s NatWest Twenty20 international against South Africa at Chester-le-Street with a hip problem. Sidebottom has not travelled with the England squad to face Scotland in Edinburgh and will have a fitness check at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan has been added to the squad to face Scotland as cover for Chris Tremlett, who is suffering with a heel injury. Bresnan opened the bowling for England Lions in Saturday 16th’s six-wicket victory over South Africa that squared the mini-series between the two sides. Bresnan impressive opening spell of 8 overs realised just 28 runs, helping to restrict South Africa to just 209 from their 50 overs.

England Lions struck a timely blow for the main side as they beat a full-strength South African outfit by six wickets at Derby. Samit Patel pushed his claims for an international debut against Scotland, or later next week against South Africa, with an unbeaten 60 as he and Eoin Morgan added 113 to seal the win with 52 balls to spare. The first of the Lions matches went the South Africans’ way by four wickets at Grace Road and both sides made significant changes for this game. The visitors recalled Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher after they were rested following the Test series, while the Lions also had some fresh faces, including a new captain Ed Joyce, with only four players remaining from the first match. Patel was one of those and enjoyed considerably more success this time after his previous golden duck. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior, promoted to open after batting at No. 5 in the previous match, gave the chase an early push until caught behind, but Patel came in with the innings chase at a crucial time on 97 for 4.

Andre Nel made two quick breakthroughs by bowling Owais Shah for 46, including three sixes, and Joyce trod on his stumps for 10. However, Patel made an impressive stand with Middlesex left-hander Morgan. The required run rate was never an issue for the Lions as Patel and Morgan moved along at close to six per over. Nel and Johan Botha were expensive as the batting pair picked off regular boundaries. The new-look Lions attack caused problems for the South Africans despite a brisk opening stand of 67 between Smith and Herschelle Gibbs. Darren Pattinson, who controversially made his Test debut at Headingley last month, struck the first blow when he bowled Gibbs but was the one bowler to take severe punishment.

The key period came when the medium-pacers, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Luke Wright and Jonathan Trott tied down the scoring. The 26 overs from that trio, along with Patel, went for just 74 runs. Kallis’ poor run continued when he was trapped lbw by Mascarenhas, who surprisingly has been omitted from the one-day squad, who then bowled Smith for 50 off 67 balls. AB de Villiers and JP Duminy struggled either side of a brief rain break before both fell to Trott and the South Africans were 117-5. They rebuilt through Mark Boucher and Vernon Philander, but couldn’t accelerate the scoring. Boucher twice cleared the boundary as the pair added 92, finishing with 63 off 67 balls. The Lions put in a much improved batting display and the likes of Patel, Prior, Shah and Wright can join up with the England squad to face Scotland in good heart.

Albie Morkel, the South Africa all-rounder, is confident that his side have what it takes to secure the forthcoming Twenty20 international against England. Morkel, older brother of quick bowler Morne, missed the 2-1 Test series win, but is keen to ensure South Africa end their already impressive tour of England on a high. Morkel is an entirely different player from his younger brother, a versatile, primarily one-day player, who has experienced English conditions while playing for Durham in this year’s Twenty20 Cup. He already has form against England, too. His 43 in 20 balls and 2 for 12 helped South Africa to a comfortable win in last year’s ICC World Twenty20.

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