South Africa vs England second ODI predictions: Malan can help tourists respond
- England are looking to end a run of four straight ODI defeats
- South Africa need series win to avoid World Cup qualification
- Recommended bet: Dawid Malan to score 50+ runs
South Africa lead the three-match one-day series 1-0 going into Sunday's showdown in Bloemfontein, but England will feel they can hit back and level matters.
Friday's opening match of the one-day series saw the Proteas win by 27 runs, after England had looked to be on course for the victory.
Having been set 299 to win, a century from Jason Roy put England in a strong position but losing their last seven wickets for just 75 runs saw the tourists fall short as they slipped from 196-3 to 271 all out.
Jos Buttler admitted they "should have gone on to win" the opener from the position they were in and were "disappointed" to lose, but expect the world champions to respond on the same ground on Sunday.
Team news
Despite claiming a crucial win, the hosts are expected to make a couple of changes to their starting XI, particularly in the bowling attack.
Tabraiz Shamsi struggled in the opening match of the series, with the left-arm spinner ending with figures of 1-55 from 5.2 overs, with an economy rate of 10.31 while his sole wicket was that of number 11 Olly Stone.
Durban's Keshav Maharaj is expected to be handed his chance.
After struggling to make an impact in his first international appearance since March 2021, there are suggestions that Jofra Archer will be rested.
Reece Topley, fit again after an ankle injury, and Chris Woakes are other options, but batter Phil Salt looks likely to miss out again due to illness.
The stats
The Bloemfontein pitch was certainly batter friendly, with the flat and slow surface making life difficult for the bowlers on both sides.
Despite Friday's defeat, England still have an impressive record at the venue — winning three of the five meetings against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval, with one defeat and one tie.
Even though the Proteas have a 1-0 advantage, it is worth noting that South Africa have not beaten England in a one-day series since 2016.
The tourists had to bat under the lights on Friday but the second ODI is a day game and the conditions are unlikely to change much between the first and second innings.
Prediction
Roy took the headlines for his century in the first match, but there was also much to like about the batting display of his opening partner, Dawid Malan.
The 35-year-old, currently sixth in the T20 batting rankings, looks to be establishing himself in the one-day team ahead of the World Cup later this year.
The Yorkshire batter added another half-century to his tally, scoring 59 off 55 balls on Friday while sharing an opening stand of 146 with Roy.
That is now two centuries and three half centuries in 13 ODI innings for Malan, who is averaging 51.40 in 50-over international cricket.
England are 7/10 with LiveScore Bet to win the second ODI and level the series but the value may lie elsewhere, particularly given the Three Lions' recent struggles in the 50-over game.
