South Africa win toss, bat against England

SOUTHAMPTON: South Africa captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat in the second one-day international at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday.

The Proteas were unchanged from the team selected for the first of this five-match series, a no-result washout in Cardiff on Friday where only 5.3 overs were possible before rain forced an abandonment.

But England, on a pitch renowned for aiding spinners, recalled left-arm slow bowler Samit Patel in place of seamer Chris Woakes.

If South Africa win this match they will replace England at the top of the one-day international rankings, having already taken their place at the summit of the equivalent Test match standings.

But in order to remain they must at least draw this series.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson

South Africa: Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar, AB de Villiers (capt/wkt), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Robin Petersen, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. (AFP)