Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Date: Saturday, November 06
BetXchange Odds:
England – 9/20
South Africa – 35/20
Form
It is the same for favourites England, who are sitting top of Group 1, after they impressed with four wins from as many matches and they will be looking to end the group phase of the tournament with a win.
England have effectively secured a place in the semi-final stage but there is a lot at stake for South Africa who have to win to have any chance of leapfrogging Australia to second spot and making it for the semis.
England
England have effectively booked a place in the semi-final but they are not going to take their foot on the table as they are up against rivals South Africa as they want to finish top to avoid on-form Pakistan in the semis.
News coming from the England camp is that fast bowler Tymal Mills will play no further part in the T20 World Cup after a scan earlier this week revealed the extent of the right thigh strain he picked up during the game against Sri Lanka.
Mills took seven wickets at 15 in the tournament, though he was comfortably England’s most expensive bowler, going at eight an over.
He will be replaced in the squad by Surrey left-armer Reece Topley, who was already in the UAE as a travelling reserve.
South Africa
For the Proteas, they have not reported any injuries and they are expected to go with the same team for the third match running with the likes of Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie ven der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and David Miller at the top of the batting order.
With ball in hand, the South African think tank are going to rely on all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi to deal with the batting threat of England.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Proteas captain admitted that their fate of progressing to the semi-finals is not in their hands but they will be going out to beat England and hoping for the best.
Best Bets
Tough match to call with what at stake but England are slight favourites because of their good form of having won all their four matches in the tournament so far and they also have the explosive Jos Buttler in their batting line-up.
