Excitement is building at the top of the table in the Men's Hundred, as the Trent Rockets prepare to take on the Birmingham Phoenix in a crucial playoff race showdown. The Phoenix currently hold the third spot in the table with 8 points, securing the last eliminator spot, while the Rockets are hot on their trail with 6 points. The Rockets will be kicking themselves for letting a surefire win slip through their fingers against the Southern Brave, which would have secured their spot in the playoffs. On the other hand, the Phoenix are riding high after a dominant victory over the Welsh Fire in their last match. Get ready for a thrilling clash between these two top teams as they battle it out for a spot in the playoffs.
LAST FIVE MATCHES RESULTSBIRMINGHAM PHOENIX: W W L W W
TRENT ROCKETS: W L L W L
LIKELY PLAYING XIsBIRMINGHAM PHOENIX LIKELY XIBatters: Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell
Allrounders: Moeen Ali, Dan Mousley, Benny Howell
Wicketkeeper: Jamie Smith
Bowlers: Sean Abbott, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Chris Wood
TRENT ROCKETS LIKELY XIBatters: Alex Hales, Joe Root, Adam Lyth
Allrounders: Rovman Powell, Lewis Gregory, Imad Wasim
Wicketkeeper: Tom Banton
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Luke Wood, Sam Cook, John Turner
STATISTICAL PERFORMANCE (BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX)1. TIM SOUTHEEKiwi Tim Southee has had a solid Hundred so far, with 8 wickets in 6 matches. The seam and carry of Edgbaston should aid his bowling.
INNINGS - 7
WICKETS - 11
STRIKE RATE – 12.70
ECONOMY RATE – 5.89
AVERAGE – 15.00
2. BEN DUCKETTBen Duckett has been on a tear this season of the Hundred, racking up 210 runs in just 4 innings at a strike-rate of 173.55. He has been one of the best batters in the tournament.
INNINGS: 27
RUNS: 832
AVERAGE: 36.17
STRIKE RATE: 144.70
50s/100s: 5/0
Players who can make a difference (BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX)1. Sean AbbottSean Abbott pitched in with his second 4-fer of the season in the last match. Similar to Southee, the seaming conditions of Edgbaston would play to the Aussie’s strengths.
2. Moeen AliThe Birmingham Phoenix captain has finally found some form after a rough start to the season, contributing with 60 in their win over Welsh Fire while opening.
STATISTICAL PERFORMANCE (TRENT ROCKETS)1. TOM BANTONTom Banton is the top scorer for the Rockets this season with 200 runs in 6 innings, at a strike-
rate of 156. He is also one of the top-scorers in the tournament.
INNINGS: 27
RUNS: 524
AVERAGE: 19.41
STRIKE RATE: 133.67
50s/100s: 2/0
2. IMAD WASIMImad Wasim has been economical and tight in line and length with his spin in the Hundred. He has 8 wickets in 6 matches this season.
INNINGS: 8
WICKETS: 10
STRIKE RATE: 15.00
ECONOMY RATE: 5.00
AVERAGE: 15.00
Players who can make a difference (TRENT ROCKETS)1. Joe RootIn a team filled with powerful batters, Joe Root has had an impressive season with his stroke-making and consistency for the Trent Rockets.
2. Rashid KhanRashid was taken apart by Kieron Pollard in the previous game, but is still one of the best bowlers in world cricket and will be looking to bounce back with a traditionally strong spell.
TEAMS HEAD TO HEAD RECORDIn 6 matches in the men’s Hundred, Phoenix slightly edge the head-to-head with 3 wins to 2, along with 1 no result.
MATCHES: 6
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX WON: 3
TRENT ROCKETS WON: 2
NO RESULT: 1
VENUE AND PITCHThe Edgbaston pitch is amongst the best in England for supporting pacers, who will look to take advantage of the swinging conditions to take early wickets. Batters will want to see out these overs and attack the spinners, who tend to be expensive in Birmingham. The average first innings score is 154.
FANTASY XIWicketkeeper: Tom Banton
Batters: Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales
Allrounders: Moeen Ali, Imad Wasim, Rovman Powell
Bowlers: Sean Abbott, Tim Southee, Rashid Khan
BACKUP PLAYERS:
Batter: Jacob Bethell
Bowler: Luke Wood
All-rounder: Benny Howell
Stay informed with the latest updates on live cricket score, cricket players, match schedules and ICC rankings. Keep an eye on your favourite cricket team, including the stellar performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Check out the cricket schedule, track team standings and dive into player stats and rankings on Crickit, powered by Hindustan Times website and app.