On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, The Rose Bowl in Southampton will host the 22nd match of The Hundred League 2023, featuring a clash between Southern Brave and Birmingham Phoenix.

Southern Brave’s performance in this tournament has been moderately successful thus far. Out of the five matches they’ve played, they secured victory in two encounters. Additionally, they suffered defeat in two matches, while one match ended without a clear result. Their current standing places them in the fourth position on the points table.

On the other hand, Birmingham Phoenix has faced significant challenges in delivering noteworthy performances. As of now, they hold the title of the least successful team in this tournament. Out of the five matches they participated in, they managed to secure victory in only one. Conversely, they encountered defeat in two matches, while two other matches remained inconclusive. This disappointing run of results has positioned them at the bottom of the points table.

Southern Brave enters this match following a commanding triumph over Welsh Fire, securing victory by an impressive margin of nine wickets. The bowling unit’s performance was nothing short of remarkable, restricting Welsh Fire to a mere 87 runs and dismissing their entire lineup in just 100 balls. Bolstered by a potent bowling attack, nearly every bowler from Southern Brave demonstrated exceptional prowess on the field.

Tymal Mills emerged as the standout performer and the leading wicket-taker for Southern Brave, claiming four wickets in 20 deliveries while conceding a mere 12 runs. George Garton also contributed significantly by taking three wickets in 15 balls, conceding only eight runs. Craig Overton’s performance was commendable as well, as he secured two wickets in 20 overs, allowing 19 runs. Matthew Fisher captured one wicket in 20 balls, yielding 24 runs. Meanwhile, James Fuller and Rehan Ahmed were unable to secure any wickets.

Southern Brave’s batting order demonstrated equal prowess, successfully chasing down the target of 88 runs in just 59 balls with an impressive nine wickets remaining. Devon Conway led the charge, emerging as the top run-scorer with 35 runs to his name off 25 balls, including five boundaries. Finn Allen contributed 31 runs, while Leus du Plooy added 17 runs to the team’s total. This comprehensive performance showcased Southern Brave’s well-rounded capabilities, both in their bowling and batting departments.

Birmingham Phoenix faced a setback with consecutive losses against Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire. However, they exhibited a strong resurgence by clinching a decisive victory in their most recent match against Oval Invincibles, triumphing by a substantial margin of 41 runs. The batting order’s performance was noteworthy, as they compiled a total of 160 runs in 100 balls.

Jamie Smith emerged as the standout contributor, securing the title of the most successful and highest run-scorer from the Birmingham Phoenix side. Smith notched an impressive 60 runs in just 33 balls, punctuated by six boundaries and three significant sixes. The team’s skipper, Moeen Ali, also made his mark on the scoreboard, accumulating 33 runs from 26 balls, featuring one boundary and two towering sixes.

Additional contributions came from Ben Duckett, who added 23 runs to the tally in 14 balls, featuring five boundaries, and Dan Mousley, who contributed 15 runs. The recent match showcased Birmingham Phoenix’s well-rounded batting prowess.

The performance of Birmingham Phoenix’s bowling unit in the preceding match was truly commendable. They successfully defended a target of 161 runs, restricting Oval Invincibles to a mere total of 119 runs in 99 balls. Kane Richardson stood out as the top performer, claiming four wickets in 19 balls at the cost of 32 runs. Adam Milne was also instrumental, securing two wickets in 20 balls while conceding just 18 runs.

Chris Woakes, Benny Howell, and Liam Livingstone each secured one wicket, contributing to the team’s collective effort. The only bowler who couldn’t secure a wicket was Moeen Ali. Overall, Birmingham Phoenix’s recent performance showcased their dynamic capabilities, both in batting and bowling, reaffirming their competitive spirit in The Hundred League.

Southern Brave appears to have a clear advantage over the Spirit, at least on paper. According to The Hundred predictions, Southern Brave is poised to emerge as the favored team and secure victory in this match. Several factors contribute to Southern Brave’s favorable position, some of which are outlined below:

Strong Tournament Performance: Southern Brave has exhibited a commendable performance in the ongoing tournament, especially when compared to Birmingham Phoenix.

Potent Batting Lineup: Southern Brave boasts a formidable and in-form batting order, which is likely to play a pivotal role in their success.

Robust Bowling Unit: The team’s bowling unit is characterized by experience and strength, enhancing their overall competitiveness on the field.

Confidence from Previous Win: Birmingham Phoenix’s recent victory adds a layer of confidence to their gameplay, which might serve as a motivating factor for the upcoming match.

Southern Brave’s collective strengths in both batting and bowling, along with their impressive tournament track record, position them as the front-runners in this exciting contest.

Southern Brave Boasts a Blend of Experienced and Young T20 Players

Strength in Batting Order Enhances Winning Prospects

Southern Brave’s roster is a dynamic mix of seasoned and emerging talents in the T20 format. The team’s batting lineup stands out as a formidable force, featuring well-known T20 hitters who contribute significantly to the squad’s prowess. With such a lineup in place, the prospects of Southern Brave clinching victory in today’s match have considerably risen.

Predicting the Outcome

In the realm of cricket match predictions, the equation for today’s game is as follows:

Southern Brave holds a 56% probability of emerging victorious in this match.
Birmingham Phoenix, on the other hand, possesses a 44% chance of securing the win in today’s contest.

As both teams gear up to showcase their skills on the field, Southern Brave’s blend of experience and youthful vigor, combined with their robust batting order, positions them with a favorable advantage in their pursuit of triumph.

Toss Holds Crucial Significance in The Hundred League Matches

Strategic Importance of Posting a Solid Total

The outcome of the toss is poised to significantly influence the course of action in every match of The Hundred League. Especially in high-stakes encounters, having a substantial total on the scoreboard confers a notable advantage. Forecasts surrounding the toss suggest that the team winning the toss might opt to take the initiative and bat first.

The 22nd match of The Hundred League 2023 is scheduled to take place at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. Our observations from past matches held at this venue indicate that the pitch is conducive to batting. While the surface is slightly slower compared to other pitches, it offers advantageous conditions for spinners. Anticipations point towards the surface gradually slowing down further, potentially posing increased challenges for batsmen in this match. Achieving a score of 185 could prove to be a formidable task in these conditions.

The weather forecast for Southampton indicates the presence of some clouds on the day of the match, but there is no prediction of rain. Consequently, it is expected that the match will proceed without interruptions, allowing for a complete and uninterrupted game.

Southern Brave: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Leus du Plooy (c), Joe Weatherley, Rehan Ahmed, Tim David, James Fuller, George Garton, Craig Overton, Matthew Fisher, Tymal Mills.

Birmingham Phoenix: Will Smeed, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (c), Dan Mousley, Chris Benjamin (wk), Benny Howell, Chris Woakes, Adam Milne, Kane Richardson.

Captain: Devon Conway
Vice-Captain: Chris Jordan
James Vince, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Benny Howell, Tim David, Adam Milne, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton

• Date: Wednesday, 16th August 2023
• Time: 05:00 PM GMT / 06:00 PM LOCAL / 10:30 PM IST

• Stadium: The Rose Bowl
• Location: Southampton, England
• Opened: 2001
• Capacity: 6,500 (20,000 with temporary seating)
• Known as: The Ageas Bowl, West End
• Ends: Pavilion End, Northern End
• Time Zone: UTC +01:00
• Home to: Hampshire, Hampshire 2nd XI
• Floodlights: Yes

• Total matches: 15
• Matches won batting first: 10
• Matches won bowling first: 5
• Average 1st Inns scores: 163
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 135
• Highest total recorded: 248/6 (20 Ov) by AUS vs ENG
• Lowest total recorded: 79/10 (14.3 Ov) by AUS vs ENG
• The highest score chased: 158/4 (18.5 Ov) by ENG vs AUS
• The lowest score defended: 132/9 (20 Ov) by ENGW vs AUSW

Leus du Plooy (C),Alex Davies, Mitchell Santner, Jofra Archer, Jafer Chohan, Chris Jordan, James Vince, Finn Allen, Devon Conway (WK), Joe Weatherley, Rehan Ahmed, Tim David, James Fuller, George Garton, Craig Overton, Matthew Fisher, Tymal Mills.