England vs South Africa Live: Real-Time Score, Highlights & Must-See Moments

England vs South Africa 2nd ODI live preview: England plot swift response after Headingley hammering England and South Africa reconvene at Lord’s today for the second One-Day International of the three-match series, and Jos Buttler’s side know only a win will keep the contest alive after a chastening defeat in Leeds. England were bundled out for just 131 in 24.3 overs at Headingley on Tuesday before the Proteas cantered home with 175 balls to spare, sealing a seven-wicket victory that stunned a late-summer crowd and raised urgent questions about the hosts’ white-ball readiness ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy qualifiers. Former captain Michael Atherton branded the display “alarmingly flat” and warned England had been “caught cold” at the start of their home finale, urging senior players to rediscover intensity fast. Buttler echoed the sentiment on match-eve, admitting his line-up “needs a spark” after slipping 0-1 down. Match details • Fixture: England vs South Africa, 2nd ODI • Date: Thursday, 4 September 2025 • Venue: Lord’s, London • Start time: 13:15 BST / 12:15 UTC • Live telecast: Sky Sports Cricket (UK), SuperSport Cricket (SA) • Live streaming: Sky Go, Now TV, DStv Stream Series situation and schedule The Proteas lead 1-0 with two games to play. The final ODI is scheduled for Sunday 7 September at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, before the tour wraps up in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday 10 September with a standalone T20I. Team news and probable XIs England are considering a recall for seamer Gus Atkinson after the attack managed just three wickets at Headingley. Reece Topley’s left-arm angle could also bolster variety if conditions promise swing. South Africa, meanwhile, are likely to remain unchanged after a clinical all-round effort led by Kagiso Rabada’s four-wicket burst and Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten 68. England (probable): Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes/Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. South Africa (probable): Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (c), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi. Key battles to watch • Bairstow vs Rabada: The Yorkshireman fell to a steep Rabada lifter on Tuesday; taming the speedster’s new-ball spell is imperative for England to set a platform. • Rashid vs De Kock: Lord’s traditionally rewards wrist-spin drift later in the day; Rashid’s tussle with an expansive left-hander who likes to dominate slow bowling could shape the chase. • Stokes vs Maharaj: England’s talisman managed a run-a-ball 28 but miscued Maharaj trying to accelerate. The contest between Stokes’ power and the spinner’s guile remains compelling. Form guide England L-W-W-L-L South Africa W-L-W-W-W Stats corner • South Africa have now won four of their last five ODIs against England, including the 229-run thrashing in Kimberley last winter. • Lord’s has been kinder to England historically; they possess a 65 % win rate in ODIs at the Home of Cricket, whereas the Proteas have tasted success there only twice in seven attempts. • Rabada’s 4-23 at Headingley was his best ODI haul in the UK since 2017. Pitch and weather The Lord’s surface is expected to be drier than Leeds with moderate bounce and minimal grass cover, encouraging spin in the middle overs. Early forecasts predict clear skies and a high of 24 °C, meaning dew should not be a factor under the late-summer sun. What they said Jos Buttler: “Our batting standards are higher than that. We have to be braver but smarter—Lord’s is the perfect stage to show it.” Heinrich Klaasen: “Momentum counts for plenty in short series. One more complete performance and we take the trophy home.” How to follow Fans can catch England vs South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket, with highlights packages free to watch on ECB.co.uk shortly after stumps. Ball-by-ball text, radio commentary and real-time scorecards will run on Guardian Sport and ESPNcricinfo throughout the day. Bottom line South Africa’s ruthless opening statement has left England staring at an early series defeat on home soil. Victory at Lord’s is non-negotiable for Buttler’s faltering white-ball unit; another batting collapse, and the tourists will be celebrating on the nursery ground long before the sun sets behind the Pavilion.