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Birmingham Phoenix have stormed into the eliminator courtesy of four successive wins to end the group stage, where they will meet a stuttering Southern Brave side who have rain to thank for their progression.
DATE & TIME: Saturday August 17th 2024: USA ET – 1:00pm / USA PT – 10:00am / UK – 6:00pm / India – 10:30pm
VENUE: The Kia Oval, London England
WEATHER: Dry and sunny with temperatures very hot at 23c.
HOW TO WATCH THE HUNDRED: USA – Willow & DAZN / UK – Sky Sports & BBC / India – Fancode Click here for a list of broadcasters in other territories
HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR THE HUNDRED: Click here for the latest ticket information for Birmingham Phoenix Men vs Southern Brave Men
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX MEN FORM: PHOENIX ARE HOT AT THE PERFECT TIME
Birmingham Phoenix were forced to play a 30-ball-a-side game on Thursday night against Manchester Originals after rain delayed play, but they got through it comfortably in the end, winning by nine wickets. That result was their fourth consecutive win and saw them jump up two places in the table, locking in their eliminator spot.
SOUTHERN BRAVE MEN FORM: WEATHER SAVES BRAVE FROM GROUP STAGE EXIT
At half-time in their final league stage encounter, Southern Brave were staring down the barrel of defeat after conceding 181 vs Welsh Fire. However, after being reduced to 21/2 from 16 balls, salvation arrived in the form of rain. With 25 balls needed to be bowled in the Brave’s innings to constitute a game, the rain did not relent and the match was abandoned. That gave James Vince’s side the point they needed to overtake Northern Superchargers on net-run-rate, putting them in the top three.
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX MEN BETTING ANALYSIS
You could single out an assortment of Birmingham Phoenix players who offer significant value from a betting perspective heading into this eliminator. Opener Ben Duckett has been in fine form at the top of the order, accumulating 20+ runs in each of his last six appearances. The same outcome can be backed here via the ‘Batter Milestones’ market. Tim Southee also deserves focus, having taken 14 wickets over the course of the league stage, only two bowlers have managed more than that. Consider backing Southee to pick up over 1.5 match wickets against the Brave.
SOUTHERN BRAVE MEN BETTING ANALYSIS
If Southern Brave are to progress through to the final, they’ll need opener and skipper James Vince to be at his brilliant best here. Vince has enjoyed a stellar tournament with the bat, racking up 357 runs so far, by far the most of any player across the 2024 men’s Hundred with a high score of 90 not out vs Birmingham at Edgbaston. That includes 52 at the Kia Oval against the Invincibles and on the same ground here, Vince will look to cash in. Back him both to score 30+ runs and to finish as Southern Brave’s top batter.
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX MEN VS SOUTHERN BRAVE MEN EXPERT PREDICTION
Southern Brave thrashed Birmingham Phoenix in the league stage fixture between these two teams, but both are in significantly different shape ahead of this eliminator contest. Since then, the Phoenix have been perfect, winning all their games having gained much-needed consistency with the ball, adding to their high volume of runs at the top of their batting order.
The Brave are weakened by the loss of Craig Overton, who has been out since sustaining a hamstring injury against Oval Invincibles. Vince has struggled for top order support all tournament and his men have already tasted defeat once this season at the Kia Oval. Therefore, back the in-form Phoenix to book a return to the men’s Hundred final for the first time since it’s inaugural year in 2021.
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX MEN VS SOUTHERN BRAVE MEN TOP TIP: BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX MEN TO WIN