England Lions vs South Africa A, ENGLI vs RSAA 2026, Today Match Prediction

ENGLI vs RSAA Match Prediction & Analysis

England Lions and South Africa A will face each other in the 2nd unofficial ODI of the South Africa A tour of England, 2026 at the New Road, Worcester

England Lions and South Africa A come into this match with very different momentum. South Africa A have continued their unbeaten run on the tour after registering a comfortable 9-wicket win in the first unofficial ODI and will be looking to build on that  performance.

England Lions, meanwhile, are still searching for answers. Their struggles from the unofficial Test series carried into the ODI format, with both the batting and bowling units failing to make a strong impact. They will need a much better effort in all departments if they are to challenge a confident South Africa A side. 

RECENT PERFORMANCE

ENGLI

L W

ENGLI

119/10 in 26.1 4.55

ENGLI vs RSAA 2026

South Africa A beat England Lions by 9 wickets 05 Jun 2026

RSAA

120/1 in 19.3 6.15

ENGLI

154/1 in 24.2 6.33

PS vs ENGLI 2026

England Lions beat Pakistan Shaheens by 9 wickets

27 Feb 2026

PS

152/10 in 38.3 3.95

RSAA

W

ENGLI

119/10 in 26.1 4.55

ENGLI vs RSAA 2026

South Africa A beat England Lions by 9 wickets 05 Jun 2026

RSAA

120/1 in 19.3 6.15

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

England Lions Preview

England Lions will be looking for a much better performance after another disappointing outing in the first unofficial ODI, where they suffered a heavy 9-wicket defeat. Their struggles from the  Test series continued, and they were unable to make a strong impact with either bat or ball.

The batting unit never really got going after losing both openers cheaply. James Coles was the only batter who managed to spend some time at the crease, scoring 42 runs and showing some resistance when wickets were falling around him.

Skipper Jordan Cox tried to put the pressure back on the bowlers after coming in at No. 3 and played a quick knock of 20 runs from just 8 balls. However, he could not convert his start into a bigger score. Apart from Coles and Cox, only Henry Crocombe managed to reach double figures, which highlights the struggles of the batting lineup.

The bowlers did not have much to defend after the batters posted a below-par total. Henry Crocombe was the only wicket-taker for the side, while the rest of the attack struggled to make an impact. Players like Matthew Potts and Rehan Ahmed were unable to provide the breakthroughs England Lions needed to stay in the contest. 

The bowling unit will be hoping for more support from the batters, but they will also need to be more disciplined and create chances consistently if they want to bounce back.

England Lions need a much stronger all-round performance in this match if they are to challenge a South Africa A side that has looked comfortable throughout the tour.

Key Players: Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, James Coles 

England Lions Predicted Playing XI:

James Rew(w), Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox(c), Asa Tribe, Rehan Ahmed, James Coles, Ben Mayes, Mason Crane, Matthew Potts, Henry Crocombe, Noah Cornwell

England Lions Actual Playing XI:

Ben Mayes, Edward Jack, Asa Tribe, Ekansh Singh, Jordan Cox, James Coles, Matthew Potts, Mason Crane, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Saqib Mahmood

South Africa A Preview

South Africa A have been the standout side on this tour so far and continued their unbeaten run with a comfortable 9-wicket win in the first unofficial ODI. Everything has gone according to plan for them, with both the batting and bowling units contributing consistently throughout the tour.

The batters once again made the chase look easy, although most of the bater did not get much time in the middle because of how comfortably the target was chased. Rubin Hermann made the most of his opportunity at the top of the order, scoring a well-made 57 runs.

Experienced opener Tony de Zorzi added 23 runs, while captain Marques Ackerman chipped in with 34 runs. The batting unit has looked solid throughout the tour, and with several players still yet to spend significant time at the crease, South Africa A will be hoping for another top batting display in this match.

The bowling attack set up the victory with an excellent all-round effort. Gerald Coetzee led the way with 3 wickets and Ottneil Baartman matched that effort with 3 wickets of his own, while Kwena Maphaka and Bjorn Fortuin picked up 2 wickets each. The bowlers worked well as a unit and never allowed the opposition to build partnerships or gain momentum. 

With wickets coming from different bowlers and good control throughout the innings, South Africa A have looked very balanced with the ball and will once again be a tough challenge for the England Lions batting lineup.

Overall, South Africa A have very few concerns at the moment. They have won all three matches on the tour so far and will be looking to continue that momentum with another strong all-round performance.

Key Players: Gerald Coetzee, Marques Ackerman, Rubin Hermann 

South Africa A Predicted Playing XI:

Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Marques Ackerman(c), Jason Smith, Connor Esterhuizen(w), Dian Forrester, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman

South Africa A Actual Playing XI:

Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, Prenelan Subrayen, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Lhuan dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather at New Road in Worcester is expected to stay cloudy, with temperatures around 14°C during the match. Rain is not expected to play a major role, so a full game should be on the cards.

The overcast conditions could give the seamers a little help, especially with the new ball. The wicket, however, is expected to remain similar to what has been seen in recent matches, so both batters and bowlers should get their chances if they apply themselves well. 

ENGLI vs RSAA Pitch Report

New Road in Worcester has generally provided a good batting surface, but bowlers have also found enough assistance to stay in the contest. The average first innings score at the venue is 213 runs, while the average second innings score is 168. 

Batters who get through the early stages can make the most of the conditions and score freely. At the same time, seam bowlers can get some help, especially when the conditions are overcast, making the new-ball spell an important phase of the game.  

Toss: To Bowl

Captains may prefer to bowl first at this venue, especially with cloudy conditions expected during the match. The overcast weather could help the seam bowlers get some movement with the new ball, making the early overs important for the bowling side. 

Teams chasing have also won 6 of the 11 matches played here, which gives a slight edge to bowling first. The captain winning the toss is likely to opt to field, make use of the conditions early on, and then look to chase the target later in the game.

Toss Prediction: England Lions to win the coin toss