After South Africa’s convincing seven-wicket victory in the first ODI at Headingley, the series moves to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. England will be desperate to bounce back from their disappointing performance, where they were bowled out for just 131 runs, while South Africa will look to take a 2-0 series lead.
The defeat at Leeds was a wake-up call for England, highlighting their struggles against quality spin bowling and the need for better application with the bat.
England vs South Africa 2nd ODI Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | South Africa tour of England 2025 (2nd ODI) |
| Date | Thursday, September 4, 2025 |
| Time | 1:00 PM Local |
| Venue | Lord’s, London |
First ODI Recap
South Africa dominated the opening match:
- England bowled out for 131 in just 24.3 overs.
- Keshav Maharaj starred with 4/22, showcasing his world-class spin bowling.
- Aiden Markram blazed to the fastest fifty by a South African opener (23 balls).
- The chase was completed in just 20.5 overs with 175 balls to spare.
England’s batting collapse from 82/3 to 131 all out, losing seven wickets for 29 runs, exposed their vulnerability against disciplined bowling.
Recent Form Analysis
England
| Match | Opposition | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI vs South Africa | South Africa | Lost | 131 all out |
| 3rd ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 7 wickets |
| 2nd ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 3 wickets |
| 1st ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 238 runs |
| Champions Trophy | Afghanistan | Lost | 8 runs |
South Africa (Current Series)
| Match | Opposition | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI vs England | England | Won | 7 wickets |
| 3rd ODI vs Australia | Australia | Lost | 276 runs |
| 2nd ODI vs Australia | Australia | Won | 84 runs |
| 1st ODI vs Australia | Australia | Won | 98 runs |
| Champions Trophy Semi-Final | New Zealand | Lost | 50 runs |
Head-to-Head Record (Including 1st ODI)
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 | Headingley | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| Mar 1, 2025 | Karachi | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| Oct 21, 2023 | Mumbai | South Africa won by 229 runs |
| Feb 1, 2023 | Kimberley | England won by 59 runs |
| Jan 29, 2023 | Bloemfontein | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
South Africa now leads 4-1 in recent encounters, with their bowling attack consistently troubling England’s batting lineup.
Pitch Analysis and Predicted Score
Lord’s is generally considered a balanced pitch that offers assistance to both bowlers and batsmen, significantly influenced by the famous slope and weather conditions.
Key Lord’s Characteristics:
- Early assistance for seam and swing bowlers
- Pitch tends to flatten out as the match progresses, becoming more batting-friendly
- Spinners can become more effective in later stages if cracks develop
Weather Factor: Overcast conditions could provide additional swing and seam movement early on.
Predicted Score Range: 260-290 runs (higher than Headingley due to Lord’s typically being more batting-friendly)
Players to Watch
England
 |  |  |
| Harry Brook | Joe Root | Jos Buttler |
- Harry Brook: The captain needs to lead from the front and provide stability in the middle order.
- Joe Root: His experience will be crucial in handling South Africa’s bowling threat.
- Jos Buttler: Needs to provide the finishing that was missing in the first ODI.
South Africa
 |  |  |
| Keshav Maharaj | Aiden Markram | Temba Bavuma |
- Keshav Maharaj: After his man-of-the-match performance, he’ll be England’s primary concern
- Aiden Markram: His aggressive approach at the top of the order sets the tone
- Temba Bavuma: His ability to anchor innings will be important if early wickets fall.
Who will win today’s 2nd ODI match between ENG vs SA?
While Lord’s might offer slightly better batting conditions than Headingley, England’s confidence has taken a significant hit. South Africa’s bowling attack looks well-suited to English conditions, and their batting showed great intent in the first match.
The psychological advantage firmly rests with South Africa, and their balanced attack should be effective regardless of conditions.
Prediction: South Africa to win
Unless England can dramatically improve their batting application and find a way to counter Maharaj’s spin, another defeat seems likely.