England Cricketers Return to Form against South Africa

18 Nov 2009

Following their 84 run trouncing against South Africa in Sundays Twenty20 match, yesterday England were able to regroup and showed a remarkable return to form, as they beat South Africa by four wickets with balls to spare.

Much of England’s success can be attributed to Matt Prior who, in partnership with Luke Wright, led an excellent run chase to a winning target of 280 runs, scoring 54.

Jonathan Trott, back in the side after recovering from his injuries, attributed much of England’s performance to a reaction form Sunday’s humiliating defeat.

Trott scored 78 runs and was awarded man of the match. Strauss also contributed a fluent 65 runs.

As England cam in to bat their prospects did not look very promising. South Africa had scored 279 for nine and it looked as if the England bowlers had once again let down the side. Andrew Puttick had been a major contributor to this total, having scored 62. Fortunately the runs came to England Readily, Trott hitting six boundaries which included one six.

Whether England can maintain this form for the full one day series remains to be seen. The eleven men who played yesterday are the only eleven that are still uninjured. Alistair Cook and Paul Collingwood are nursing injured backs, James Anderson is limping with a damaged knee, Stuart Broad has an injured shoulder and Graeme Swann has pulled a muscle in his chest. At least Kevin Pietersen seems to have returned to fitness following his operation.

If you think that these injured shoulders can still defeat South Africa in the One Day International Series then the best odds for this result are 5/2 from Victor Chandler, and if you believe that they can then go on to win the Test Series you can get 9/2 from Extrabet.

All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change