Birmingham Phoenix vs Southern Brave predictions: Phoenix can exact their revenge in Eliminator![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
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![Ben Duckett is the second leading runscorer in the competition with 262 runs from just six innings](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/16082024/7a1c55a4-eedc-4b3d-98b6-9366250250c7.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
- Birmingham Phoenix have won their last four matches
- Southern Brave’s James Vince is the leading scorer with 357 in eight innings
- Recommended bet: Birmingham Phoenix to win
Birmingham Phoenix’s nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals on Thursday evening sealed their place in The Hundred Eliminator and they should be confident of exacting their revenge on Southern Brave at The Kia Oval.
The Phoenix’s final group game against the Originals was restricted to a 30-ball-per-side match due to heavy rain at Edgbaston and the hosts chased down their target of 42 with ease, losing only one wicket and winning with eight balls to spare.
The Birmingham franchise have hit form at the perfect time, winning four on the spin, but will know a tough test awaits against Southern Brave.
The Brave ran out emphatic 32-run victors when these two clashed at Edgbaston a fortnight ago, although that is only one of two defeats for the Phoenix and they should be brimming with belief.
Team news
Both sides will be expected to field their strongest line-ups and Birmingham have found a settled combination, with Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali and Jamie Smith forming a potent top three.
Benny Howell, Sean Abbott, Adam Milne, Tim Southee and Chris Wood provide pace to their bowling attack with all-rounders Ali and Liam Livingstone offering spin when required.
Southern Brave, meanwhile, have chopped and changed to maintain the fitness of their bowlers but Tymal Mills, Danny Briggs, Akeal Hosein and Jofra Archer should all feature.
Captain Vince, the leading scorer in the competition, remains vital and their chances may revolve around his influence opening the batting.
Leus du Plooy, Laurie Evans and Kieron Pollard will be relied upon to produce a match-winning innings if Phoenix get Vince’s wicket early.
The stats
![James Vince has been crucial to Southern Brave's success as the leading runscorer in this year's competition](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/16082024/d9eafd03-585d-498b-a125-c7bc910df5ae.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Southern Brave have dominated this rivalry, winning four of their five previous meetings with Birmingham Phoenix, which includes a 32-run victory in this campaign.
However, Phoenix have found their feet and are on a four-match winning streak, whereas Brave suffered a damaging six-wicket loss to Oval Invincibles two starts ago.
Brave skipper Vince is the leading scorer in the competition with 357 runs across his eight innings, with fellow opener Alex Davies the next best with 132 runs in eight matches.
Birmingham opener Duckett is the second highest-scorer in the competition, amassing 262 runs despite playing only six innings.
Jordan is the leading wicket-taker for the Brave, having taken 14 wickets from 140 balls, while Southee has shone for Phoenix in that department, claiming the same amount of wickets from 150 deliveries.
Prediction
They say bowlers win games but with both sides possessing excellent options with the ball, it could come down to the strength in depth with the bat and Phoenix may hold the edge.
Vince is clearly in phenomenal shape for the Brave but this match may revolve around his wicket and, if the Phoenix can get him early, then they will fancy going on to win the contest and book their ticket in the final to face Oval Invincibles
With big-game batters in abundance in the form of England internationals Duckett, Smith, Ali and Livingstone, the Phoenix look well set to put on a match-winning total and they are coming into this Eliminator in peak shape.
Since losing to Southern Brave, Birmingham have won four in a row and each of those victories have been by five wickets or more, highlighting the form they are currently in.
While Brave look to rely on Vince, which could pile on the pressure, Phoenix can share that responsibility throughout the team.