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South Africa vs England highlights: First ODl cricket scores, result

3rd February, 2016
Start time: 10:30pm (AEDT)
Venue:, Bloemfontein
TV: Live Fox Sports
Betting: South Africa $1.72, England $2.10

South Africa squad
AB de Villiers (c), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), Marchant de Lange, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese

England squad
Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes
AB de Villiers of South Africa. (AAP Image/ Joe Castro)
Expert
3rd February, 2016
3
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After a loss in the recently completed Test match series, South Africa will look to bounce back with some of their home summer of cricket left in tact when they take on England in the first one-day international at Bloemfontein. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 10:30pm (AEDT).

South Africa might have lost the recent Test series, but they have put up some commanding performances in the one-day arena over the last 12 months. It’s not hard to see why either, with names like AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis. While Steyn sits out of these matches with injury, it is still a very strong squad.

South Africa’s most recent One Day International series was away, against India before a Test series where they were crushed. The One Day matches though, saw South Africa come out with a three games to two victory. Before that, they hosted New Zealand – dominating that series and losing away to Bangladesh in the only series they have lost since a strong World Cup campaign.

England meanwhile, had their last one-day international series away to Pakistan, where they dominated and won three games to one. Since the World Cup early last year, England have also hosted New Zealand and Australia in one-day games, defeating New Zealand three games to two, and losing to Australia by exactly the same score after the Ashes.

Both teams appear to be fairly even on paper until you see AB de Villiers. One of the best one-day batsmen in the world, with the ability to go absolutely crazy and decimate an oppositions bowling attack in a matter of overs. For England, they must find a way to control him, which almost seems impossible if he gets off to a good start.

South Africa also have plenty of other big hitters, while England don’t seem to carry the same. Alex Hales will play an important role in getting the innings off to a strong start, and without Dale Steyn in the South African team that objective is made a lot easier. Eoin Morgan and Joe Root will then have massive jobs to do in the middle order, either upping the tempo or controlling the innings.

Prediction
South Africa just have too much talent in their squad. If one of their batsmen are able to keep the innings together, and bat for a long period of time, allowing others to tee off around them then it could be a long day for England. Should be reasonably close though.

South Africa by 20 runs or three wickets.

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Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this first one-day international between South Africa and England from 10:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde

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