South Africa v England ODI Series Betting Preview
By www.BetRepublic.com

South Africa/England One-Day International Series

Friday, 20 November 2009
First ODI: Johannesburg, 12:30pm

Sunday, 22 November 2009
Second ODI, Centurion, 8:00pm

Friday, 27 November 2009
Third ODI, Cape Town, 12:30pm

Sunday, 29 November 2009
Fourth ODI, Port Elizabeth, 8:00

Friday, 04 December 2009
Fifth ODI, Durban, 12:30pm

To look at the odds for the five-match one-day series, which starts on Friday in Johannesburg, between South Africa and England punters are expecting a one-sided contest. The hosts are skeletal at no better than 3-8 (Totesport) while England are 5-2 (VC).

Now, we all kow that England are a limited-overs side who are not to be trusted. But it may surprise you to know that of the last five meetings between the two, England have won the lot. Arguably the most impressive of those came in September in the Champions Trophy at Centurion.

This does not mean that England suddenly become the bet - even if Nasser Hussain, former England skipper, has reckoned there is little to separate them - because South Africa's record at home is just too good. They have won their last 17 two-team series, including two humblings of England. Instead, we need to respect the fact that Andrew Strauss' side are capable of picking up a win here and there.

The 'here' and 'there' are most probably Cape Town and Durban, venues for the third and fifth matches, both day-nighters. The respective records for sides batting second under lights at those grounds highlight the importance of punters checking the fixture lists for a series, just in case it throws up a lifeline for the outsiders.

Newlands and Durban most certainly do that. These should be 5-6 the pair affairs given that the side who wins the toss should win the game. Only two of the last 14 day-nighters at Newlands have been won by the side batting second and at Kingsmead the ratio is two from seven.

This makes the 5-2 (Boylesports) that South Africa win 3-2 as our best bet. Perhaps South Africa might tire towards the end of the series and let England in for a win in a dead rubber?

We are excited, too by the prospect of getting with two England batsmen in brilliant form. Andrew Strauss and Eoin Morgan have been scoring runs for fun so far on tour and there are a plethora of options to get with them.

Strauss, who don't forget was born in the Rainbow Nation, is 100-30 (Blue Square) favourite with Kevin Pietersen to be top England runscorer. The left-handed opener has 254 runs in three matches at an average of 127. Morgan, the architecht of England's Twenty20 victory, has 194 runs in five innings with an average of 64.

Given that last stat, it may surprise you that Morgan's runs for the series are available to buy at 138 with Sporting. And so the penny drops. There is no point backing both men for top bat honours because only one can dominate so the shrewd move has to be to back both on the spreads. Strauss' runs are available at 187.

BetRepublic Betting Recommendations:

South Africa 3-2
3pts at 5/2  with Boylesports

Buy A Strauss series runs
1pt at 187 with Sporting Index

Buy E Morgan series runs
2pts at 138 with Sporting Index