Welsh Fire v Birmingham Phoenix: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix are both chasing play-off spots in The Hundred so Saturday's clash in Cardiff should be highly competitive.

Welsh Fire v Birmingham Phoenix betting tips and predictions

Birmingham Phoenix to hit most sixes @ 4/5

Welsh Fire thumped Manchester Originals by eight wickets in their opening game of The Hundred campaign, but they have claimed only one victory in five subsequent fixtures.

Rain ended their chances on Thursday against Northern Superchargers, who scored only 26-5 from 25 balls in a shortened contest, so the Welsh franchise desperately need maximum points against Birmingham Phoenix on Saturday.

However, the Fire have hit only 10 sixes in their first six games this summer, so the Phoenix look a good bet to clear the ropes more often than their hosts in Cardiff.

Both teams' bowling attacks are in good nick. The Fire have conceded only one total in excess of 125 this season, against in-form Southern Brave, and the Phoenix bowled out the Superchargers for just 83 on Tuesday.

Openers Moeen Ali and Ben Duckett took only 39 balls to seal a 10-wicket win at Edgbaston, hitting four sixes between them.

Their stand meant dangerous batters such as England's Jamie Smith and Liam Livingstone were not required and there are six-hitters all the way down the Birmingham order.

Duckett hit five maximums against the Brave last weekend, while youngster Jacob Bethell is another middle-order threat. 

Even in Birmingham's heavy opening defeat to Oval Invincibles, when they were bowled out for 89, the Phoenix won the sixes battle 5-1 and they should prove a big hit at Sophia Gardens.

Tim Southee to take over 1.5 wickets @ 11/8

Both the Fire and the Phoenix have recruited some top-class overseas fast bowlers this season and New Zealand international Tim Southee can shine for the Birmingham franchise.

Southee, fellow New Zealander Adam Milne and Australia's Sean Abbott take on a Fire attack featuring Pakistan's Haris Rauf and Matt Henry, another Kiwi quick, in Cardiff.

Rauf is in fine form, claiming nine wickets in four matches, but Southee is an appealing bet to take two or more scalps against an unconvincing home batting unit.

He picked up his side's only two wickets in their opening loss at The Oval before taking 2-16 from 20 balls against London Spirit at Lord's.

Southee was outstanding against the Superchargers this week, bowling England star Ben Stokes for a first-ball duck on his way to figures of 3-15, and a cloudy evening in Cardiff should suit his bowling.

Ben Duckett to be Birmingham Phoenix top batter @ 3/1

Duckett played for Welsh Fire in the first three seasons of The Hundred before joining Phoenix in a big-money move.

His local knowledge could pay off on his return to Cardiff and he has seamlessly switched from England Test duty to the 100-ball format.

The dashing left-hander made 71 and 76 in last month's second Test against the West Indies, cracking 25 boundaries in the match.

He has top-scored in two of his first three outings for the Phoenix and should be backed to lead the way against his former franchise.

Duckett made a brilliant 92 out of 137-9 against the Brave last weekend, when the next-highest score in the Birmingham innings was just 11.

And he followed up with a smooth unbeaten 43 from only 20 balls in Tuesday's 10-wicket rout of the Superchargers at Edgbaston.

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Welsh Fire v Birmingham Phoenix odds

Welsh Fire - 1/1
Birmingham Phoenix - 4/5

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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.