T20 World Cup Super 8s England vs South Africa: Tips and suggested bets
Phil Salt at the T20 World Cup
England and South Africa are on the brink of reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals when they meet on Friday afternoon (1530 BST) after both sides won their opening Super 8s matches.
England put away hosts West Indies in emphatic fashion and the defending champions appear to be on course for a record-breaking third run to the T20 World Cup.
Their efforts to haul in the host's total in their Super 8s opener gave them the third highest T20I chase in the history of the ground.
South Africa have won all four of their matches to date but have also managed to do so while being thoroughly unconvincing.
However, they will take some encouragement from their improved batting in the win over the United States.
South Africa are set to play in St Lucia for the first time in the tournament and also play their first T20I at the ground since the 2010 World Cup when they lost matches to India and Pakistan at the venue.
England vs South Africa: Suggested bets
Phil Salt's heroics against the West Indies showed that he is up for this T20 World Cup and has got to grips with the tricky surfaces.
He smashed 87 not out from 47 balls as the defending champions romped to an eight-wicket win chasing 181 against the hosts.
The crowning moment came in the 16th over when the opener took down Romario Shepherd in merciless fashion, crashing three sixes and three fours to render the result a formality.
He looks good to repeat his top-scoring antics from last time out.
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Salt’s headline-grabbing performance was far from a solo performance, with Jonny Bairstow reeling off 48no in 26 balls as he shared the lifting in a decisive stand of 97. Have the defending champions hit form at exactly the right time?
South Africa need to recapture their powerplay run-scoring form and will pin their hopes on Quinton de Kock coming good for them.
De Kock being in form gives the Proteas a good chance of besting England in the powerplay.
South Africa brought in two spinners for their last game but will still look to their strike bowlers to do a job for them. This is the kind of game where Anrich Nortje could make a big impact.
The Proteas power finishers could also give them an edge over England when it comes to clearing the rope.
Expect South Africa to win the sixes hit market in this one, especially if England's thumpers Salt and Buttler are out cheaply.
Predictions
Phil Salt to top-score for England
South Africa to 'win' the powerplay
Anrich Nortje to lead wicket-takers for South Africa
South Africa to hit more sixes
