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After a fairly straightforward victory over Ireland earlier this month, England's preparations for the Champions Trophy are about to take a hefty step-up with the arrival of South Africa for a three-ODI series that will give a genuine insight into the readiness of Eoin Morgan's men to challenge for that elusive maiden 50-overs global title. England remain Bet365's favourites for the Champions Trophy at 3/1 , but there's little to choose between them and South Africa in the coming three matches. England are slender favourites to win the series, at 8/11 compared to South Africa's 11/10, but when it comes to the individual matchwinners, the odds are tilted slightly in the visitors' favour, with each of their anticipated top three - AB de Villiers, Quentin de Kock and Hashim Amla -among the four market-leaders to be named as Man of the Match in Wednesday's first match at Headingley. The value in the Man of the Match stakes may be lurking further down the list - not least where Ben Stokes, the all-conquering hero of Rising Pune Supergiant's IPL campaign is concerned. At 14/1, and bearing in mind his ability to shape a game with bat, ball and in the field, he is worth a punt to make his mark in his homecoming ODI. The twin legspinners, England's Adil Rashid and South Africa's Imran Tahir, are also worth a look at 16/1 and 14/1 respectively. Rashid is coming off the back of a five-wicket haul against Ireland, while Tahir has been a regular source of wickets for RPS in their march to the IPL final.
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