Match Analysis In Brief
| Date | Saturday 21st October, 2023 at 14:00 (IST) and at 09:30 (UK) |
| Venue | England vs South Africa will take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India |
| Weather | The conditions in Mumbai are expected to be extremely hot with highs of 34c and clear, sunny skies throughout the day. It will remain hot and clear into the evening, too, only dipping to 29c. |
| TV & Streaming | Viewers in India: can watch this match live on Star Sports channels, or stream it via the Disney+ Hotstar app. |
| Viewers in Pakistan: can watch this match live on both PTV Sports and A-Sports or stream it through the PTVFLIX App. | |
| Viewers in Sri Lanka: can watch this match live on Maharaja TV or stream it on Sirasatv. Lk. | |
| Viewers in Afghanistan: can watch this match live on Ariana TV. | |
| Viewers in Bangladesh: can watch it on Gazi TV or stream it through Rabbithole. | |
| Viewers in the UK: can watch this match live on Sky Sports or stream it via the Sky Go App. | |
| Viewers in Australia: can watch this match live on Fox Sports or stream it via the Foxtel or Kayo Sports app. | |
| Viewers in South Africa: can watch this match on SuperSport channels or stream it via the SuperSport app. | |
| Viewers in the USA and Canada: can watch this match live on Willow TV, whilst viewers from the USA can also stream it via the ESPN+ app. |
KEY BETTING STATS
- Quinton de Kock is the only player to score two centuries in the World Cup so far and he has reached 50+ on seven occasions in 17 ODI matches against England – Player To Score 50+ In The Match
- South Africa lost to the Netherlands on Tuesday and each of the last four times they have ended a winning run with a defeat, they have gone on to suffer back-to-back losses – Match Result
- In nine of their last ten official ODI bowling innings, England have taken all ten wickets. South Africa have achieved the same feat in eight of their last ten ODI matches – 1st Innings Of Match To Be Bowled Out
BETTING ANALYSIS For England
England’s defence of the World Cup has started very badly. After being annihilated by 2019 runners-up New Zealand by nine wickets in their opening match, they then suffered the ignominy of being just the second team, after Scotland, to lose a World Cup match to Afghanistan. Those defeats sandwiched an impressive 137-run victory over Bangladesh in Dharamsala, which did showcase the quality and pedigree of what this England team offers but perhaps the consistency is no longer there.
As mentioned, England have been excellent with the ball, generally, in terms of taking wickets. They have been reliant on Reece Topley and Adil Rashid in this tournament with both bowling all-rounders, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, struggling so far. Topley (2.00) and Rashid (2.00) both to take 2+ wickets in the match would seem quite likely as they seek to deal with South Africa’s explosive batting order.
In terms of with the bat, England’s Joe Root remains simply sublime at number three, despite himself acknowledging some poor form prior to the tournament. He scored 77 and 82 in his first two knocks at more or less a run-a-ball and is expected to hit three figures at some stage in this tournament. In 2016, he helped England chase a mammoth 230 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against the same opposition, scoring 92 in that match. Him going eight runs better and notching 100+ (5.50) should be considered.
BETTING ANALYSIS For South Africa
South Africa came into this tournament as one of the favourites with an outstanding, well-balanced team throughout. With a consistent and yet destructive batting lineup supported by an excellent variety with the ball, the Proteas hammered both Sri Lanka and Australia by over 100 runs before then suffering what could well be the biggest upset in the history of World Cup cricket, being beaten by 38 runs by the Netherlands in Dharamsala.
The Wankhede is often seen as one of the higher scoring, flatter grounds in India, as shown by that aforementioned 2016 T20 World Cup clash between these two sides. With that in mind, one of David Miller (7.50) or Heinrich Klaasen (7.50) to go big and hit the most sixes in the match seems like a good value hedge.
The Proteas will be keen on exposing England’s middle-order early. Liam Livingstone has been up at six throughout this tournament and even though Ben Stokes may return for the English, it does mean, simply on paper, England’s batting lineup is nowhere near as deep as it once was. Early wickets will therefore be gold dust for South Africa and Kagiso Rabada, who is in good form and has a good record against the English, seems like great value to pick up at least two wickets in the match (1.83)
CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION
These are two sides that, definitely in England’s case and probably in South Africa’s too, are more reliant on their batting departments than their bowling. They are playing the first game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai at this tournament; a ground expected to be fast and high scoring so England’s opening partnership to be over 34.5 (1.90) and South Africa’s to be over 32.5 (1.90) represents good value. England, though, with the experience that they do have, as well as the likely return of Ben Stokes, should be favoured to put more pressure on the South Africans after their shock loss the other day.
TIP
England to win (1.72)
