- These sides won just four matches between them in last year's Hundred
- Michael Pepper scored 535 runs in the T20 Blast this year
- Recommended bet: Michael Pepper - London Spirit Top Run Scorer

London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix both sustained pretty heavy defeats in their opening matches of The Hundred earlier in the week and something has got to give when they clash at Lord's on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Phoenix were hammered by eight wickets by Oval Invincibles, having been bowled out for just 89 runs in Kennington.

And one day later, London Spirit were also comprehensively beaten, going down by seven wickets to Southern Brave in Southampton.

But both teams were expected to have improved seasons this year and their encounter in the capital this weekend could be evenly poised. 

Team news

Ben Duckett and Chris Woakes are not available for Birmingham Phoenix due to their involvement in England's Test series with the West Indies.

London Spirit are unlikely to make any chances from their opener against Southern Brave with Adam Rossington and Daniel Bell-Drummond likely to open the batting again.

The stats

Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit both finished level on six points in The Hundred last year, posting two wins and four defeats.

London Spirit ace Michael Pepper struck 535 runs at an average of 44.58 for Essex in this year's T20 Blast.

Only three players made double figures for Birmingham Phoenix as they were bowled out for only 89 in their first match of The Hundred against Oval Invincibles.

Prediction

There was little to shout about for London Spirit last time out with the exception of an unbeaten 45 from number eight Liam Dawson.

Dawson was one of just two players in the Spirit lineup to score more than 13 runs but they undoubtedly have quality at the crease and an improved performance is expected at Lord's.

And one player to keep an eye on is Michael Pepper, who can build on his score of 12 in that opener for Spirit.

Pepper was one of the stars of the show in this year's T20 Blast, striking an impressive 535 runs in 13 innings for Essex in the South Group.

Only Daniel Hughes (560) and Sam Hain (554) scored more runs in the competition's group stage with Pepper averaging an impressive 44.58.

Pepper showed in that competition that he has something special up his sleeve, notably scoring a career-best unbeaten 120 off just 53 balls against Sussex Sharks earlier this month.

He is a player in form and it is only a matter of time before he carries performances like that into The Hundred for London Spirit, so he is worth a wager to top his team's scoring charts at Lord's.

Back Michael Pepper to be the London Spirit top run scorer at 15/4 with LiveScore Bet.