South Africa vs England 1st T20 Betting Tips, Predictions & Odds - Buttler can steer England to victory

South Africa will be looking to improve on their T20 form when they face England in the 1st T20 of a three-match series at Newlands on Friday. Both teams have players who performed well at the recently completed IPL so we should be in for a tight series.

South Africa have lost four of their six T20 matches in 2020, all of which came against England and Australia on home soil.

After losing the three-match T20 series to England in February 2020, South Africa lost their next series 2-1 to Australia. The Proteas lost the 1st ODI before bouncing back to level the series in the 2nd T20.

The 3rd and final T20 ended in a humiliating 97-run defeat for South Africa at Newlands. The Aussies scored 195 runs batting first but the hosts could only muster 96 runs. Rassie van der Dussen top scored with 24 runs.

South Africa have no injury concerns ahead of the 1st T20 against England. Captain Quinton de Kock will continue his successful opening partnership with Temba Bavuma.

There are a few players in the squad who will be looking for an opportunity to prove their worth. That includes Janneman Malan, Bjorn Fortuin, Junior Dala and possible debutant, George Linde.

England beat Australia in their last T20 series 2-1 in September. With all three matches taking place in Southampton, the hosts won the first two before losing the dead rubber third match.

On a slow pitch in the 3rd T20 at the Rose Bowl, England scored 145 runs batting first. Jonny Bairstow scored 55 runs while Dawid Malan added 21. Australia struggled along the way but eventually reached the target with three balls to spare to win by five wickets.

Last time England toured South Africa their batsmen fired on all cylinders and we are expecting very batsman friendly conditions once again.

England have traveled with a huge squad to South Africa. Jason Roy is back in the squad after injury and is joined by Tom Banton who should open the batting alongside Roy.

Dawid Malan is ranked at the top T20 batsman in the world and will want to prove his worth in his birth country. Joe Root also makes a return to the T20 squad.

England have won three of their last five T20 matches against South Africa. This includes a 2-1 series win in South Africa in the 2019/20 season.

In their last match England chased down a mammoth 222 runs to win by five wickets at Centurion.

South Africa are underdogs at 2.20 with England paying 1.66 at bookmaker bet365.

Quinton de Kock can be backed at 3.60 to be South Africa’s best batsman while Jos Buttler is priced at 4.00 in the same market for England.

Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada will have to be at their very best to keep an exceptionally strong England batting line-up quiet. 

The Proteas have some very capable batsman themselves but this series could well be decided by the performance of the hosts bowlers.