England v South Africa predictions and Twenty20 cricket betting tips

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for England v South Africa in the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 2pm Saturday

Best bet

Adil Rashid top England wicket-taker
2pts 11-4 general

Match preview

Australia's thumping win over Bangladesh on Thursday, when they sealed victory with 82 balls to spare, was bad news for South Africa's hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

The Proteas start the day level on points with the Aussies, who now have a significant net run-rate advantage before their clash with the eliminated West Indies.

South Africa will at least know what they need to do to qualify when they face England, who are all but assured of top spot in Group One, but beating Eoin Morgan's men is tough enough without having to worry about run-rate permutations.

The likelihood is that Temba Bavuma's men will have to push for a wide-margin win over England, who breezed past the Windies, Bangladesh and Australia before a gutsy victory over Sri Lanka.

If South Africa's batsmen have to take risks then England leg-spinner Adil Rashid could come to the fore in Sharjah, where he took 2-19 against the Lankans earlier in the week.

Rashid was treated with respect by the Proteas in their 3-0 home series defeat to England last winter, when he took two wickets and conceded just 5.83 runs per over in a high-scoring series.

He claimed six scalps in two home games against Pakistan in July, picked up 3-18 in a warm-up match against New Zealand, and ran through the Windies' lower order to finish with figures of 4-2 in England's opening game.

At the age of 33, Rashid is a master of his craft and his control and variations make him a dangerous bowler to attack on spin-friendly pitches in Sharjah.

England fast bowler Mark Wood should be fit to make his first appearance of the tournament in place of the luckless Tymal Mills, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.

Opener Jos Buttler is a worthy 5-2 favourite to top-score for England having scored 214 runs in four innings and been dismissed only once at this tournament.

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