South Africa produced a dominant performance in the first game of the three-match series against England at home to record a comprehensive 27-run run win in Bloemfontein.
The home team stepped into this series requiring three wins in five matches to secure an automatic qualification in the ICC World Cup scheduled to commence in India later this year.
Apart from these three games, they are set to play the Netherlands and ought to win three out of the five games to move to the eighth position in the points table.
They started the series with a clinical performance as Rassie van der Dussen smashed a scintillating century to power the Proteas to 298 runs in the first innings.
In reply, Jason Roy finally returned to form after a string of low scores and scored 113 runs off 91 deliveries to keep England in the run chase. Despite his valiant effort, Anrich Nortje rattled the visiting side with four wickets to guide South Africa to a convincing win.
With the series at stake for the England side and a step closer to the World Cup qualification for the home team, here are some of the key tips that could help you build for your fantasy team for this high-voltage clash.
Ground details
Although only a couple of matches have been played at the Mangaung Oval, the wicket is conducive for strokeplay as the average first-innings total is around the 265-run mark.
Like most wickets in South Africa, it will assist the pacer and help them generate bounce, which was evident in Nortje wreaking havoc in the first clash.
Suggested team
Captaincy suggestions
For small leagues: Rassie van der Dussen (Captain), Jason Roy (vice-captain)
For grand leagues: Anrich Nortje (Captain), Dawid Malan (vice-captain)
Stats that matter
In ODIs since 2020, Rassie van der Dussen is the leading run-scorer for South Africa, with 972 runs in 19 innings at an average of 69.43. He has been in sublime form in the fifty-over format and started the series with a hundred.
With 725 runs in 24 innings at an average of 31.52, Jason Roy is the second leading run-scorer for the England side in ODIs since 2020. The right-handed batter struggled with form in the last couple of series but has started this away tour with an absolute masterclass.
The opening batter and his exuberant style of play will hold the key for the visiting side in their bid to come back into the series.
Grand league punts
In ODIs since 2020, Anrich Nortje has scalped 24 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 27.5 and a strike rate of 27.3, which is the best for a South African bowler with a minimum of 10 innings in this time frame.
In ODIs since 2020, Dawid Malan has scored 490 runs in 12 innings at an average of 54.44, which is the best for an England batter with a minimum of 10 innings.
Along with the southpaw, Jos Buttler has been in fine form in the fifty-over format scoring 468 runs in 16 innings at an average of 33.43 and a strike rate of 109.9.
Probable XIs
South Africa - Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (Captain), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala
England - Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (Captain & wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Olly Stone