Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Trent Rockets edged Manchester Originals by a solitary run on Monday, meaning they have started the season with two wins from two matches.

They are among the early pacesetters for a playoff berth but up next are Birmingham Phoenix, who themselves are fresh from a three-wicket triumph over London Spirit last Saturday.

With the likes of Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith returning to their respective franchises for this match, it could be an intriguing encounter in the Midlands.

Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix betting tips and predictions

Trent Rockets to have highest opening partnership - 4/5

Wins over Northern Superchargers and Manchester Originals have shown that Trent Rockets are not messing about in The Hundred this season and there are a handful of dangerous individuals in the team.

But perhaps the greatest strength of the Rockets is their opening pair of Adam Lyth and Tom Banton.

The batting duo joined the Rockets from Northern Superchargers this year and, after underwhelming campaigns in 2023, they have hit the ground running this month.

Banton has scored the bulk of the runs, firing 45 against the Originals after a knock of 66 against the Superchargers, but Lyth has also been a decent anchor at the other end.

In their opener they lost their first wicket at 44 runs, while that total crept up to 55 against Manchester Originals, so they could be worth backing to have the highest opening partnership in this contest against Phoenix.

Tom Banton to score most match sixes - 6/1

Those expecting another fine showing from opener Banton may consider a bet on him to hit the most match sixes at 6/1.

Banton struck 10 boundaries against the Superchargers, although nine of them were fours, but he cleared the ropes on three occasions against the Originals last time out - Paul Walter was the only player to match that tally.

Banton scored only 145 runs for the Superchargers last season but he still scored six maximums and he scored 14 sixes in the T20 Blast for Somerset earlier this year.

Ben Duckett top Birmingham Phoenix runscorer - 13/5

Ben Duckett missed the start of this season's Hundred due to his England Test commitments but he can hit the ground running for Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday.

Duckett was not at his best during the recent Test tussle but his best two innings of 71 and 76 both came at Trent Bridge, where he will line up for Phoenix this week.

That bodes well for the England ace, who will be eager to build on his performances in the 2022 edition of The Hundred, in which he blasted 220 runs in eight innings for Welsh Fire.

He contributed another 170 runs for Phoenix last term and he will surely be their greatest source of runs on Wednesday.

Phoenix dug deep to beat London Spirit last time out, although they were reliant on runs from lower down the order with numbers six and seven Jacob Bethell and Benny Howell scoring 67 of their 131 runs in that contest.

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Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix odds

Trent Rockets - 8/11
Birmingham Phoenix - 11/10

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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.