Birmingham Phoenix v Southern Brave: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Oval Invincibles have qualified for Sunday's final of The Hundred and they will face the winners of Saturday's Eliminator between Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave.

Birmingham Phoenix v Southern Brave betting tips and predictions

Birmingham Phoenix to win the match - 4/5

Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave both booked their places in The Hundred Eliminator in rain-affected league fixtures this week but the weather forecast is clear for Saturday's play-off clash at The Oval.

The winners of the Eliminator will take on table-topping Oval Invincibles in Sunday's final at Lord's and the Phoenix should be in good heart after winning their last four games.

Thursday's nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals, in a match reduced to 30 balls per side, sealed second spot but the Brave rode their luck to pip Northern Superchargers to third place in the league.

They conceded a mammoth total of 181-5 against Welsh Fire at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday and had stumbled to 21-2 off 16 balls before being saved by the rain.

James Vince's side have an excellent head-to-head record against the Phoenix, winning four of the five previous meetings.

However, the Birmingham-based franchise have a powerful batting line-up featuring in-form opener Ben Duckett and fellow England internationals Jamie Smith, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone.

The Phoenix pace bowlers skittled the Superchargers for 83 and Trent Rockets for 118 in a couple of recent wins.

They could prove too sharp for a Brave batting line-up which is heavily reliant on skipper Vince, the leading batter in this season's competition with 357 runs.

Jamie Smith to be Birmingham Phoenix top batter - 5/1

England Test opener Duckett has enjoyed a wonderful first season with the Phoenix, scoring 262 runs in six innings including 92 in the league defeat to the Brave.

However, local knowledge could play a part in Saturday's game at The Oval so Jamie Smith, who plays his county cricket for Surrey at the south-London venue, looks a tempting bet to top-score for Birmingham.

Smith enjoyed an impressive debut Test series against the West Indies, scoring 70, 36, six and 95, and he made 100 and 70 against Essex in the County Championship on his last appearance at The Oval.

He has had a quiet time in The Hundred but hit two sixes in seven balls in Thursday's rain-shortened win over the Originals and has smashed 285 runs from just 139 deliveries in the T20 Blast for Surrey this season.         

Sean Abbott to take two or more wickets - 11/8

Another Birmingham player who should feel at home at The Oval is Australia all-rounder Sean Abbott, who spent the start of the summer with Surrey.

Abbott, recently added to Australia's squad for next month's T20 series against Scotland and England, took 15 wickets in eight Blast matches for Surrey including 3-25 against Glamorgan in his most recent outing at The Oval.

While New Zealand veteran Tim Southee is the leading wicket-taker for the Phoenix this year, Abbott has produced a couple of spectacular spells.

He took 4-14 against London Spirit at Lord's and 4-16 against Welsh Fire in Cardiff so he is worth backing to pick up at least two wickets against the Brave.   

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Birmingham Phoenix v Southern Brave odds

Birmingham Phoenix - 4/5
Southern Brave - 1/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.