The inconsistent MI London head north of the river to take on capital rivals London Spirit on Thursday evening at Lord's, as The Hundred heads towards the end of the group stage
MI London sit third in the standings with a record of three wins and two defeats from five matches, but they have yet to string consecutive wins together this season.
Their trip to London rivals the Spirit is an excellent opportunity for Sam Curran's men to register back-to-back wins for the first time this summer and would put them in excellent position to seal a top-three spot.
Under their previous moniker - Oval Invincibles - the south London-based outfit won the Hundred for the past three years, but will need to up their consistency if they wish to make it four in a row later this month.
With Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire leading the way, MI have two excellent challengers for their crown, but a win against the Spirit will put them right back in the frame.
The Spirit have struggled this year and their heavy defeat on Tuesday to SunRisers Leeds means nothing but a win in this clash will do to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive.
MI London fell to defeat to the Spirit earlier this summer by seven wickets, with 11 balls left in the match, however, they have won four of the last five meetings between the pair and are fancied to do so once more in this clash at Lord's.
London Spirit v MI London Tips Summary
Best Bet - Will Jacks 2+ sixes @ 5/4
Alternative Bet - Runs at fall of first wicket - MI London - over 28 @ 11/10
Bet Builder - MI London to win, Liam Livingstone top London Spirit batter & David Willey to take 1+ wickets @ 12/1
London Spirit v MI London Prediction
Best Bet: Will Jacks 2+ sixes @ 5/4
Will Jacks leads the way with the bat for MI London so far this season, having scored 157 runs in five innings. Along the way, he has smashed 16 fours and 10 sixes.
Jacks opens the innings for his side and last time out struck a 31-ball 62, with three fours and six maximums during his innings.
The opener will be going up against an attack that just conceded a record 241 in 100 balls on their way to a 37-run defeat to SunRisers Leeds.
The SunRisers' innings was one of incredible power hitting and Jacks has the ability to clear the ropes in similar style.
The Headingley franchise smashed 21 sixes in their innings, with poor bowling being dispatched with ease by the top-order batters. More could be on the cards in this all-London clash.
Alternative Bet: Runs at fall of first wicket - MI London - over 28 @ 11/10
Last time out, MI London put on 71 for their first-wicket partnership as Jacks and James Vince found their stride against Manchester Super Giants, while the same pair compiled a first-wicket stand of 91 when taking on the London Spirit earlier in the summer.
Backing the openers to get their side off to a flying start and build a partnership of 29 or more is an appealing option in this match against a bowling attack fresh off conceding a record-breaking total only 48 hours before this clash.
A similar display will more than cover the line on this pick.
London Spirit v MI London Bet Builder Tip
MI London to win
Liam Livingstone top London Spirit batter
David Willey to take 1+ wickets
Pays 12/1
MI London head into this clash as firm favourites to reclaim London bragging rights after falling to a surprise defeat at the Oval earlier in the summer.
That victory was the Spirit's only win of the season, but following their convincing defeat to Sunrisers Leeds and MI London's improvement when seeing off the Super Giants last time out, backing the visitors to come out on top is an attractive proposition.
Liam Livingstone's side put up a spirited fight when chasing 241 at Headingley, but fell 37 runs short in the end.
David Willey top-scored with 83, but coming in at seven, he is unlikely to get to face as many balls again. Skipper Livingstone got the chase underway after his side lost Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Jonny Bairstow for a combined five runs.
Livingstone hit a quick-fire 34 from just 13 deliveries and is his team's top runscorer this summer, so backing the former England man to lead his side from the front once more is an appealing choice.
Rounding out this three-fold is backing Willey to get into the wickets once more.
The all-rounder took the scalp of England white-ball captain Harry Brook at Headingley and, with five wickets to his name, he is his side's leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
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Key Match Stats
MI London have won four of the last five meetings between the pair
London Spirit won the last clash between the city rivals, coming out winners by seven wickets
MI London’s top scorer this season is Will Jacks with 195 runs in five innings
Liam Livingstone leads the way with the bat for London Spirit with 157 runs in five innings
MI London's Richard Gleeson is the tournament's joint leading wicket-taker with nine in five matches
David Willey has taken the most wickets for London Spirit with five in five matches
Tactics, Form & Team News
Joe Moores has joined the Spirit as an injury replacement for Tymal Mills, however, the 17-year-old left-handed wicket-keeper batter is not a like-for-like replacement for the fast bowler and is unlikely to feature here.
Expected London Spirit XI: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone (c), Dewald Brevis, James Rew, James Coles, David Willey, Jamie Overton, AJ Tye, Adam Milne, Adam Zampa.
MI London have a settled side with perhaps one question remaining over whether Jason Roy or Ollie Pope make the cut.
Pope was in the team for their last match, but did not bat inside the top seven, which suggests he is not needed in the side.
Roy, if selected, would likely bat in the top three and offer an explosive start to the innings, so the former England white-ball opener is most likely to get the nod.
Expected MI London XI: Will Jacks, James Vince, Jason Roy, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Sam Curran (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Nathan Sowter, Richard Gleeson.
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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.
