Manchester Super Giants vs Birmingham Phoenix The Hundred Predictions - Super Giants to sink the Phoenix

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 2 hours ago

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Simon Lewis 2 hours ago

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Manchester Super Giants won their opener against the London Spirit by 7 runs.
Birmingham Phoenix beat the Trent Rockets by 10 runs two days ago.
Spin could play a factor in the match through the middle overs.

Jos Buttler hits out against the London Spirit (Getty Images).

Manchester Super Giants vs Birmingham Phoenix Predictions

Both sides picked up tight wins in their opening match, but the Phoenix top order showed their steel by posting over 200 while the Super Giants were restricted to 138 off their 100 balls.

Manchester Super Giants vs Birmingham Phoenix Predictions
Head-to-Head
Manchester Super Giants Form
Birmingham Phoenix Form
Team news

Manchester Super Giants’ Jos Buttler has scored 131 & 41* in his last 5 knocks.
Manchester Super Giants’ Heinrich Klaasen has scores of 47 & 61 in his last 4 innings.
Manchester Super Giants' Sonny Baker has taken 2/38, 5/24, 5/21 & 2/29 in 5 matches.
Birmingham Phoenix’s Will Smeed has scored 46, 52, 21, 49 & 51 in his last 5 matches.
Birmingham Phoenix’s Joe Clarke has scores of 31, 23, 64 & 68 in his last 5 innings.
Birmingham Phoenix’s Rehan Ahmed has taken 3/33 & 2/46 in his last 4 matches.

Head-to-Head

Manchester Super Giants have won three and lost two of their last five matches in The Hundred against Birmingham Phoenix, who have won the last two matches in a row.

Manchester Super Giants Form

Super Giants opened their campaign in style, edging London Spirit by seven runs in a tense contest, and will be eager to make it two wins from two. Phoenix matched that positive start by seeing off Trent Rockets by 10 runs and will be determined to keep their winning run going in what shapes up as a crucial early-season fixture.

The home side will draw confidence from their opening success, while Phoenix bring plenty of match-winners capable of turning the game. Conditions at Old Trafford should offer something for both batters and bowlers, setting the stage for an evenly poised contest.

Jos Buttler batter has been in particularly fine form, compiling 299 runs across his last nine innings at an average of 37.38. Heinrich Klaasen adds explosive firepower in the middle order, while the bowling attack looks well-equipped with Josh Tongue (15 wickets in recent matches) and Sonny Baker (11 wickets) both in sharp rhythm.

Birmingham Phoenix Form

Birmingham Phoenix will look to Joe Clarke, who has scored 229 runs in his last eight outings, and the hard-hitting Will Smeed at the top of the order. With the ball, Chris Wood and Rehan Ahmed are expected to play key roles.

Clarke already announced himself in the competition with a blistering 68 off just 33 balls (strike rate 206.06) in the opening game and will be desperate to produce another match-defining innings. On the bowling front, Gus Atkinson impressed with two wickets at an excellent economy rate of 4.20 and could again prove decisive with his ability to strike at key moments.

Team news

Both sides are in good form and are unlikely to ring any changes, although the Super Giants will be looking for a better performance with the bat from their top order.

Manchester Super Giants (possible XI): Aiden Markram (c), Tim Seifert, Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Leus du Plooy, Tom Moores, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Noor Ahmad, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker.

Birmingham Phoenix (possible XI): Will Smeed, Joe Clarke, Rehan Ahmed, Laurie Evans, Donovan Ferreira (c), Mitchell Owen, Sean Dickson, Ben Dwarshuis, Scott Currie, Saqib Mahmood, Usman Tariq.