The league stage round of the fourth edition of The Hundred competition is done and dusted, and we are just a couple of games away from knowing the latest champions of this coveted tournament. Birmingham Phoenix will face Southern Brave in the Eliminator at Kennington Oval, London, on August 17.
Birmingham Phoenix performed exceptionally well in the league stage, winning their last four games to secure a spot in the top three. They finished second on the points table with 12 points from eight games. Moeen Ali and Co. will aim to continue their impressive performance in the eliminator and secure their place in the summit clash. On the other hand, Southern Brave finished third on the points table with 11 points from eight games. Northern Superchargers and Brave were tied with the same points, but the latter secured their place in the Eliminator due to a superior net run rate.
The winner of this contest will face Oval Invincibles in the grand finale of The Hundred 2024. Ahead of this mouth-watering clash, let’s dive into the match predictions, probable playing XIs, head-to-head records, pitch report, stats, top players, and key player matchups to watch. 
Kennington Oval, London Pitch Report
The wicket at Kennington Oval has favored pacers to a greater extent in the ongoing Hundred tournament. Batters need to focus on strike rotation early on and keep wickets in hand to capitalize at the tail end of the innings. The chasing team has won three out of four matches at this venue in this year’s tournament, so bowling first could be a good choice.
Kennington Oval, London Pitch Stats (Men’s The Hundred)
Total Matches: 18
Matches won batting first: 7
Matches won bowling first: 10
Match Tied: 1
Average 1st innings Score: 142
Average 2nd innings Score: 136
Highest total recorded: 201/3 (96 balls) By Manchester Originals vs Southern Brave
Lowest total recorded: 89/10 (81 balls) By Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles
BRP vs SOB Probable Playing XI
Birmingham Phoenix: Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Dan Mousley, Jacob Bethell, Benny Howell, Sean Abbott, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Chris Wood
Southern Brave: Alex Davies (wk), James Vince (c), Leus du Plooy, James Coles, Laurie Evans, Kieron Pollard, Chris Jordan, Danny Briggs, Akeal Hosein, Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills
BRP vs SOB Head-to-Head
Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave have locked horns five times in The Hundred’s history, with Brave dominating the battle 4-1.
BRP vs SOB Top Players Predictions
James Vince (SOB): The Southern Brave skipper has shown impressive form in The Hundred 2024, leading his side from the front. He is the leading run-scorer in this season’s tournament, amassing 357 runs in eight innings. The 33-year-old will play a key role for Brave in this crucial clash.
Ben Duckett (BRP): The English player is in red-hot form in The Hundred event, smashing bowlers for fun. The left-hander has stockpiled 262 runs in six innings and is second on the list of leading run-scorers. His aggressive approach laid a solid foundation for the Phoenix side throughout the tournament, and he will look to continue his merry ways in the Eliminator.
Tim Southee (BRP): The Kiwi pacer has wreaked havoc with the ball in the fourth edition of The Hundred, reminding everyone of vintage Southee. The 35-year-old has swung the ball both ways with the new ball and hit the right areas in the death overs to topple batters. He grabbed a 5-fer in Phoenix’s penultimate league game and is currently third on the leading wicket-taker list, with 14 wickets. The Kennington Oval has recently favored pacers, and Southee will look to exploit the conditions to his team’s advantage.
BRP vs SOB Hit or Miss Prediction
Chris Jordan (SOB): The English pacer has effectively used his variations in the ongoing edition of The Hundred. However, Jordan underperformed in Brave’s final league game, conceding 40 runs in 20 balls without taking any wickets. Despite this, he has taken 14 wickets in eight innings and will aim to bounce back in this crucial match. The 35-year-old will play a key role for the Brave in containing runs during the tail end of the innings.
BRP vs SOB Key Player Matchups to Watch Out For
- James Vince vs Tim Southee
- Ben Duckett vs Jofra Archer
- Liam Livingstone vs Chris Jordan
BRP vs SOB Match Predictions
Run-scoring at Kennington Oval hasn’t been easy this season. As a result, the total score in this contest might stay under 269.5 (1.85). James Vince and Ben Duckett are in sublime touch this season, and both are expected to score over 21.5 (1.85) and 20.5 runs (1.85), respectively. Additionally, total runs in this contest will likely surpass 13.5 (2.00). The Odds.
BRP vs SOB Winner Prediction
Both teams performed well in the league stage and have quality players in their squads, setting the stage for a high-octane clash. Southern Brave have a strong record against Phoenix in the history of The Hundred, and they are likely to dominate this contest as well.
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