Cricket betting tips: Manchester Originals vs Birmingham Phoenix preview and best bets for The Hundred

The Sunday schedule in The Hundred brings together two sides who have struggled to find their best rhythm this season, yet both remain eager to finish strongly. Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix lock horns at Old Trafford in a fixture set for a 6pm start, with both teams entering on identical records of two victories from six matches. Read on to find a detailed preview and the best bet recommendation for this clash, and don’t forget to take advantage of the selected betting offers listed below to maximise your betting value.

Cricket betting tips: Manchester Originals vs Birmingham Phoenix predictions

Can Birmingham Find Their Spark at Old Trafford?

• Liam Livingstone has amassed 227 runs from six innings, more than any other Phoenix player
• Jos Buttler leads the Originals with 208 runs, 45 clear of Phil Salt
• Josh Tongue has taken 10 wickets in only four matches, compared with Benny Howell’s seven in six for Phoenix

Our Best Bet

That symmetry extends into the points table, as neither outfit has managed to string together consistent performances, leaving playoff ambitions hanging by the thinnest of margins.

Manchester’s campaign has swung between extremes, with dominant showings at their home ground mixed with inexplicable batting collapses. Their demolition of Northern Superchargers on this very pitch provided a glimpse of what they can do when everything clicks, but a disappointing 98 all out against Trent Rockets last time served as a sobering reminder of frailties.

Jos Buttler has remained a shining light, compiling runs with authority, while Phil Salt and Rachin Ravindra bring a proven backbone to the top order. Heinrich Klaasen adds firepower, though his contributions have been patchy. With Noor Ahmad supplying control in the spin department and seamers such as Lewis Gregory and Scott Currie able to exploit conditions with cutters, Manchester appear reasonably balanced, although question marks linger over consistency.

Birmingham’s campaign has been equally turbulent. Their capitulation against Welsh Fire on Friday raised fresh concerns about both batting intent and bowling sharpness. The gamble of deploying three New Zealand seamers in Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Tim Southee has not worked, leaving the attack appearing one-dimensional and lacking adaptability. With Ben Duckett and Will Smeed out of form, the bulk of responsibility has fallen on Liam Livingstone, who has been the standout performer. His tally of 227 runs, built at an average above 50, demonstrates his importance, while Jacob Bethell’s gradual return to form offers some encouragement in the middle order. Joe Clarke has shown reliability too, regularly passing double figures, though not often converting starts into decisive innings. The Phoenix may lack the depth of their rivals, yet their ability to clear the ropes and capitalise on momentum phases cannot be ignored.

The pitch at Old Trafford has generally been kind to batters this season, producing first innings totals of 131, 163 and 171. A target around 160 again looks par. Spinners have occasionally thrived here, though the surface has mostly rewarded clean striking. Given both sides’ erratic nature, the outcome is finely poised, but it may well come down to which team’s top order settles quickest into rhythm.

---

Best Bet for the Day

At BettingTips4You, we pride ourselves on providing a single standout prediction per event, preferring quality over volume. This approach ensures clarity for readers and enables us to properly measure the success of each selection. For today’s encounter, the most appealing angle is Birmingham Phoenix To Win, Birmingham Phoenix Highest Opening Partnership & Birmingham Phoenix Most Sixes at 9/2.

The reasoning behind this bet lies in the potential for Phoenix’s batting order to finally click together in conditions that could favour aggressive stroke play. While Duckett and Smeed have struggled for fluency, their ability to provide a stable foundation has to come good at some point, and Old Trafford offers the sort of surface where timing through the line becomes easier. Livingstone remains the key figure, and his tournament so far – 227 runs with 19 sixes – highlights his destructive capabilities. If he fires alongside Clarke and Bethell, Phoenix can outmuscle their rivals.

Furthermore, Manchester’s middle order has looked fragile outside of Buttler’s brilliance, meaning that if Phoenix can get their openers into the contest, they may well dominate this key battle. Their strength in clearing boundaries adds further weight to their chances of topping the six-hitting charts, while the Originals’ reliance on one or two individuals leaves them vulnerable. Taken together, the triple outcome of a Phoenix win, better opening stand, and most sixes looks a smart play at attractive odds.

Enhance your betting game with our daily free betting tips, predictions, and accumulators.

For more betting tips and news, check out:

• Cricket Tips
• Our Comprehensive Betting News

Don’t forget to visit our Free Bets page for the best possible value as well as our Predictions.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Exclusive Tips

Want to have exclusive tips from experts tipsters delivered right into your inbox? Subscribe Now To Our Newsletter. We will never spam, we fully respect your privacy!

Selected Bookmakers Offers