• England have won six of the nine completed T20s in Manchester

• The average first-innings score at Old Trafford in this year's T20 Blast was 158

• Recommended bet: South Africa to win

The Cardiff rain turned Wednesday's first T20 between England and South Africa into something of a farce.

Under 13 overs of play were possible as the Proteas won by 14 runs on DLS, and England captain Harry Brook, who described the events at Sophia Gardens as a "shambles" won't have lost too much sleep over the result.

The three-match series heads to Old Trafford on Friday, when Brook and opposite number Aiden Markram will be hoping the rain stays away long enough for a full match.

Team news

Jofra Archer was a late omission on Wednesday due to the conditions and should return to the side.

Luke Wood impressed in Archer's absence and could keep his place at the expense of all-rounder Liam Dawson.

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj suffered a groin strain in the warm-up for Wednesday's clash and is set to miss out again. Paceman Lungi Ngidi will miss the rest of the series with a hamstring injury.

The latest England vs South Africa T20 odds are available with LiveScore Bet

The stats

England have won six of the nine completed T20 internationals to be played at Old Trafford.

England average 8.52 runs per over in T20s in Manchester.

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram has scored 163 runs in four limited-overs innings against England this summer.

Adil Rashid has taken nine wickets in England's four white-ball matches against the Proteas this month.

The average first-innings score at Old Trafford in this year's T20 Blast was 158.

Prediction

England's one-day captain Brook described Wednesday's match in Cardiff as a "shambles" and it would folly to read too much into South Africa's win at Sophia Gardens.

Old Trafford has been a decent hunting ground for England in T20 internationals - they have won six of the nine completed matches there - but barring their record victory in the final match of the ODI series last week, the hosts have looked an inferior side to the Proteas.

The tourists have been perennial bridesmaids in global tournaments but there is an added steel to the latest crop of South African players.

Although in an entirely different format, this year's World Test Championship success against Australia will have given the Proteas great belief that they can go to enjoy further success on the international stage, and they have been there or thereabouts at the last couple of ICC one-day tournaments.

A semi-final appearance at the 2023 ODI World Cup was followed by an agonising defeat to India in the final of the T20 equivalent a year later, and they may just have too much nous for Brook's evolving side.

Back South Africa to win the second T20 at 13/10 with LiveScore Bet

The latest England vs South Africa T20 odds are available with LiveScore Bet