ENG vs SA, 2nd ODI Match Prediction: Who will win today’s game between England and South Africa?

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England will take on South Africa in the second ODI of their three-match series on Thursday at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. South Africa currently leads the series 1-0 after a convincing seven-wicket victory in the opening match at Headingley, where England were restricted to just 131 runs.

The initial game saw South Africa’s bowlers completely dominate, with Keshav Maharaj leading the charge with a match-winning 4 for 22. England’s performance was largely underwhelming except for Jamie Smith’s 54 and Adil Rashid’s 3 for 26. The English side, led by Harry Brook, will now look to regroup and bounce back in front of their home crowd to keep the series alive.

Total matches: 72 | England won: 30 | South Africa won: 36 | Ties/No result: 6

The pitch at Lord’s Cricket Ground is one of the most distinctive in world cricket, shaped by its well-known 2.5-meter slope running across the surface. This natural gradient has a significant impact on how the game unfolds, especially during the early overs of the match. New-ball bowlers who can generate swing and seam movement tend to thrive, particularly under the frequent overcast skies in London. Seamers exploiting the slope often trouble batters by creating movement both through the air and off the deck, making the opening exchanges a real challenge.

As the innings develops, however, the surface typically settles into a true batting pitch. The bounce becomes more reliable, and the pace off the wicket allows batters to play their strokes with greater confidence. This shift balances the contest, though by the middle overs the advantage often tilts slightly in favour of the batting side. Spinners rarely dominate at Lord’s, but they can occasionally come into play in the second half of an innings, especially if the pitch shows signs of dryness or wear.

England: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Also READ: Top 5 fastest fifties for South Africa in ODI cricket ft. Aiden Markram

Case 1:

Case 2:

Match result: South Africa to win the contest.

Also WATCH: South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton pulls off magical catch to dismiss Joe Root in the 1st ENG vs SA ODI