Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets, HMC2023, Today Match Prediction 05 August 2023

BRM vs TRE Match Prediction & Analysis

Defending champions Trent Rockets have started the new season on the perfect note – with a thrilling 6-run win over Southern Brave. That close win has taken them to second place on the points table, behind Welsh Fire. The Rockets will next take on Birmingham Phoenix on Saturday at Edgbaston. Birmingham’s first match of the season was washed out due to rain. Despite earning one point, Birmingham's performance in the encounter was disappointing.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

BRM

TRE

W

TRE

133/8 in 20.0 6.65

HMC2023

01 Aug 2023

SOU

127/10 in 19.4 6.55

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Birmingham Phoenix Preview

Birmingham Phoenix should consider themselves fortunate for getting one point from their season opener clash against Northern Superchargers at Headingley. They were reeling at 84-5 from 62 balls before torrential rain ensured no further play was possible. Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 34 off 26 balls was the only saving grace for them.

Liam Livingstone should make the starting eleven this time after missing the previous game due to injury. He is the MVP for the team and is in good form, scoring 219 runs from his last 7 matches at an average of 36.50 and a strike rate of 158.69. All-rounder and captain Moeen Ali too missed the last match due to injury but should feature in this match. He had a memorable Ashes and should carry over his form to this competition.

On the bowling side, Birmingham have fast bowlers Kane Richardson (13 wickets in the last 8 matches at 7.89) and Tom Helm (14 wickets in the last 9 matches at 8.32) to bank on. Moeen will also be handy with his off-spin in the middle overs, while Shadab Khan is expected to make things difficult for the opposition batters with his legbreaks. 

Birmingham Phoenix Predicted Playing XI:

Will Smeed, Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone/Dan Mousley, Jamie Smith (wk), Moeen Ali (c)/Chris Benjamin, Shadab Khan, Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tom Helm, Kane Richardson

Trent Rockets Preview

Trent Rockets would be pretty pleased with their performance in The Hundred's first match of the new season. On a Trent Bridge wicket that had a lot to offer to the bowlers, they posted 133-8 after batting first against Southern Brave. Scoring 63 runs off 38 balls, Sam Hain emerged as the star player of the game.

Their bowlers, led by captain Lewis Gregory (3-19 off 15 balls) and Daniel Sams (3-26 off 19 balls), then ensured that the opposition batters couldn’t get past the target. Spin bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim’s spell of 2-15 also proved to be detrimental.

Trent Rockets have a star-studded batting lineup that bats deep. Alex Hales may have failed in the last game, but he is our batter to watch out for in this clash. The hard-hitting opener has scored 268 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 26.80 and a strike rate of 152.27.

Dawid Malan (388 runs in the last 10 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 163) is another batter worth keeping in your team. Malan is known to play the perfect sheet anchor role and will thrive in these conditions.

The Rockets are spoilt for choice in their bowling department too. Sams and Gregory will, of course, play a crucial part for them throughout the season. It would also be wise to back Sam Cook, who has 11 wickets from his last 7 matches at an economy of 7.69.

Trent Rockets Predicted Playing XI:

Dawid Malan, Alex Hales, Tom Kohler-Core (wk), Colin Munro, Sam Hain, Lewis Gregory (c), Imad Wasim, Daniel Sams, Matthew Carter, Luke Wood, Sam Cook

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at Edgbaston is a well-balanced track, where the bowlers usually have an upper hand over the batters. There will be help for pacers in the initial overs, particularly with the overcast conditions. However, once batters settle down, they will be able to plunder runs. This is the first match of the season here, so there should be enough bounce on the pitch, which should help both bowlers and batters.

The weather in Birmingham will be mostly cloudy during the game, becoming breezy in the afternoon with a touch of rain.

BRM vs TRE Pitch Report

Last season in the Hundred, the highest total posted at Edgbaston was 176-4 by Birmingham Phoenix versus Southern Brave. Three totals above 150 were achieved here in 2022, the same as 2021. The team batting first should look to post a target of about 160 runs. 

Toss: To Bowl

Eight matches of The Hundred have been played at Edgbaston; four have been won by the team batting first and four by the side chasing. With the weather expected to be cloudy with a touch of rain, the team winning the toss is likely to field first and utilize the overhead conditions to get some early wickets.