Birmingham Phoenix vs Northern Superchargers predictions: Mo's Phoenix to rise again
- Birmingham Phoenix have won two and lost two
- Northern Superchargers have won three in a row
- Recommended bet: Birmingham Phoenix to win
Northern Superchargers have powered their way into the top three of The Hundred thanks to three straight victories and will be hopeful of making it four in a row at Edgbaston.
The return of skipper and star batter Harry Brook from England duty has coincided with the rise of Andrew Flintoff's side.
But Birmingham, led by their own England man, Moeen Ali, are very definitely still in the hunt for the knockout stages, though they need to exorcise the ghosts of their previous match.
They were effortlessly chasing down Southern Brave's 169 on Saturday before losing eight wickets for 43 in a disappointing defeat.
Twenty-four hours later and again inspired by Brook, the Superchargers beat Manchester Originals by 14 runs.
Team news
Birmingham and England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith could make his first appearance of this year's tournament.
The Superchargers, already minus paceman Brydon Carse and batter Jason Roy, will now be without seamer Dillon Pennington (hamstring) for the remainder of the tournament.
England Test captain Ben Stokes is listed in the squad, but it's unclear whether he will play at Edgbaston.
The stats
These two franchises have met three times in The Hundred, gaining a win apiece with one no result.
Birmingham's Ben Duckett boasts a strike rate of 161.4, the best of any batter with more than 100 runs.
The Superchargers are now on a three-match winning streak having lost their previous five in a row.
Prediction
The Phoenix should have seen off Southern Brave in their first Hundred fixture on home soil this season on Saturday night, but they can get it right when they take on the Superchargers in their second.
Edgbaston was poised to rise to Moeen's heroes at the weekend as they set themselves up to chase down the Brave's 169-2, with Duckett smashing five sixes in a dazzling 92.
But once Duckett left the stage there was nothing left, no one else scoring more than 11 as the Phoenix fell short.
The Brave's seam attack, with Chris Jordan taking three wickets at less than a run a ball, was outstanding and is surely the best in the competition and Birmingham won't be exposed to quite such a level of excellence against the Superchargers.
The Phoenix will have to bowl well themselves to put the brakes on Brook, West Indies ace Nicholas Pooran and the rest, but this looks like a very winnable game.
There is only one win and two points between these franchises and the bigger-priced Phoenix get the nod.
