England v South Africa predictions & cricket betting tips: Topley on top form

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for England v South Africa in Tuesday's first ODI at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 1pm Tuesday

Best bets

Reece Topley top England wicket-taker
2pts 5-2 BoyleSports

Rassie van der Dussen top South Africa runscorer
1pt 9-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Heinrich Klaasen to score over 22.5 runs
3pts 5-6 BoyleSports

Team news

England
Ben Stokes announced on Monday that this will be his final ODI for England. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid is back in the squad and seamer Matthew Potts, who impressed in the Test matches against New Zealand and India, is hoping for an ODI debut on his home ground.

South Africa
White-ball captain Temba Bavuma (elbow) misses this tour so spinner Keshav Maharaj will lead the side. Quinton de Kock (hand) remains a doubt and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be rested for the ODIs.

Match preview

Just two days after losing a series decider against India at Old Trafford, England's ODI team return to action against South Africa at Chester-le-Street, where the temperature is expected to pass 35C.

In contrast to the weather, England's batting form in their defeat to India was tepid and captain Jos Buttler's 60 in the third ODI was their highest individual score.

Bookmakers expect the 4-7 hosts to come good at the Riverside Ground and only last month Buttler bashed 162 not out off 70 balls in a record-breaking ODI total of 498-4 against the Netherlands.

History is on England's side. They have won eight of their last nine completed ODIs at the Durham venue and 12 of their last 15 at home against South Africa, including their first group fixture at the 2019 World Cup.

Ben Stokes was man of the match that day but the World Cup final hero has decided to retire from ODI cricket after Tuesday's game at his home ground. The all-rounder, who succeeded Joe Root as Test captain earlier this year, will continue to play Twenty20 and Test matches for England.

The Proteas are without injured captain Temba Bavuma and rested fast bowler Kagiso Rabada while Quinton de Kock missed the warm-up games against England Lions as he continues his recovery from a hand injury.

If De Kock is passed fit, he should expect a tough new-ball test against England left-armer Reece Topley, who looked in terrific rhythm against India and can continue that fine form.

Topley, whose career had been threatened by injury problems, was man of the match for his 3-22 in the final T20 against India, dismissing openers Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma in his first three overs.

An even more spectacular performance followed in the second ODI at Lord's, where he took 6-24, again getting rid of both openers before cleaning up the tail to seal a 100-run win.

On Sunday he took out India's top three – Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – and the calibre of his victims suggests he should cause serious problems for South Africa.

Two of the Proteas' middle-order batters must be respected and the 9-2 about Rassie van der Dussen top-scoring looks too big.

After 35 ODIs, Van der Dussen has a stunning average of 71.84, boosted by ten not-outs, and in January's home series against India he scored an unbeaten 129, 37 not out and 52.

He had a solid World Cup campaign in England three years ago, with scores of 50, 41, 22, 67 not out, 36 and 95, and made 61 against England Lions at Worcester last time out.

Heinrich Klaasen eclipsed his teammate in that game, blasting 123 off just 85 balls after a quickfire 51 in the first match at Taunton. His ODI opportunities have been limited but he scored a brilliant unbeaten century in a win over Australia in February 2020 and can clear a runs line of 22.5.

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