The second half of the double header in The Hundred on Sunday comes from Edgbaston where the Birmingham Phoenix take on the Oval Invincibles in a clash which sees the team at the bottom of the table hosting the one at the top.
I think it is fair to say that it is do or die for the Phoenix here as they are yet to win a match in the competition this season. Oval are yet to lose so it will be interesting to see if those records remain intact or there is a change to the status quo.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Cricket and Sky Mix channels with the build-up to the game beginning at 5.30pm ahead of the first ball coming down at 6pm.
Birmingham Phoenix
The Birmingham Phoenix have been one of the better teams in the opening two seasons of The Hundred but they have not lived up to that billing in the first half of this campaign and go into the second part of the regular season still searching for their first win. It should be said that they have only played two completed matches but it is a concern that they have been comfortably beaten in both and looked well off the pace so far.
Their latest defeat came against the Welsh Fire, a result which wasn’t exactly franked on Saturday evening, when some really questionable decisions were made, not least sending Jamie Smith in at three after a sedate start when Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone were waiting in the wings. With a tiny score to defend they needed to bowl like demons to get over the line, but predictably their bowlers couldn’t rescue the situation. Birmingham need their big guns to fire here.
Oval Invincibles
It took the Oval Invincibles a couple of matches to get into their groove this season but the beauty of that was they were still able to pick up a win and a tie in those outings. Since then they have looked like a side worthy of the name they have carried with two complete displays which have resulted in a couple of fairly comfortable victories and should they pick up another win here, it is hard to see their season not being extended.
Oval have really found their groove with the bat in the last two matches. That is a positive because I do think that they are better equipped with the bat than the ball, although they have had a couple of special bowling spells at the right time to assist them. If Oval continue to bat with the brute force that they have at their disposal then they are entitled to be tough to beat. They look the team to beat in this competition at the minute.
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Key Players
Liam Livingstone was one of few Birmingham Phoenix batters to show anything like the form you would expect in the previous game against the Welsh Fire. The Phoenix should shove him up the order and let him fire.
Heinrich Klaasen has delivered two masterclasses in brutal batting in the last two matches and he can stay hot for a third game in succession then it is hard to see Oval Invincibles not putting up a daunting looking score.
Betting
There looks like there are too many key Birmingham Phoenix players out of form and I think they are vulnerable to an Oval Invincibles side who look like they are moving through the gears in the competition. Oval might not be among the standout sides in the league on paper with the ball in hand but their bowlers are certainly bowling well enough to keep Birmingham shackled and that spells danger for the home side.
I’m always reluctant to take on a team who have Will Smeed, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone who can fire at any point but those three, with the exception of a couple of big Livingstone hits against the Welsh Fire, look devoid of confidence and form. Everyone in the Oval side is doing their job and if they can just maintain their composure should one of those Birmingham stars catch fire then I would expect the Invincibles to come out on top here.
Tips
Back Oval Invincibles to beat Birmingham Phoenix for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Bet365
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