MI London v Trent Rockets The Hundred Tips
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Saturday 8 August, 14:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
MI London are on the charge in The Hundred and, as the arrogance of their franchise dictates, will now reckon that can down Trent Rockets from top spot. No mealy-mouthed play-off finish for them.
The team which finishes first in the ladder goes straight to the final with the second- and third-placed teams playing off to progress. If MI were to win this one, London may well be favourites to steal top spot with Phoenix their last match and Brave a much tougher examination for Rockets.
London are buzzing after busting a strong toss bias at Lord's on Thursday night. They chased supremely with 161 a stiff target. They got home with six balls to spare.
The moot point, however, may be to wonder how they managed to allow Spirit to score well on what has been a historically tricky pitch. There are other alerts in their line-up. Ollie Pope at No 8 is as pointless an exercise as one can remember. Imagine not trusting an England international to bat no higher than that?
They may now need him. Nic Pooran was slated to leave to lead Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, which started in the early hours of Saturday. TKR's first game is early on Sunday. Sikandar Raza has already deputised for the absent Rashid Khan.
It could be that the smart money is on Rockets here to assert their dominance. They are settled and have not looked back since an opening-game defeat by Phoenix on a Birmingham road.
The match odds market looks likely to make this a choice affair and that just cannot be right. Any chance to bet Rockets at 1.9110/11 should be snaffled, particularly if the visitors get use of the toss bias, which favours the chaser.
Back Rockets batting 2nd from...
Southern Brave v Manchester Super Giants The Hundred Tips
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Saturday 8 August 18.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Manchester Super Giants have to beat Southern Brave to keep alive their hopes of a third-place finish. They will rightly feel nervous, however, given the importance of the toss in Southampton. Sixteen from 23 have been won by the chaser. That's not the sort of ratio a team wants when they absolutely have to win.
However, they might not get too down if the flip doesn't go their way. Brave were able to buck the toss trend by squeezing Phoenix to defend 128 by 12 runs. Brave then trumped another toss bias at Lord's before Welsh Fire ended their hopes of progressing. They are playing for pride, which is an increasing concept in this era of franchise leagues.
The big question may be: do MSG have the ability to make use of a slow surface bowling first? Their attack has all been about pace with Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Sonny Baker proving to be potent but pricey. Baker, as a Hampshire man, knows the square well. In his last appearance in a T20 on this ground he took five wickets, MSG need a big performance from him. His performance line at 21.5 may be the best option at 5/61.84 with one per run, 10 per catch and 20 per wicket.
Michael Bracewell, the Kiwi all-rounder, has signed as a replacement for Aiden Markram. That could be a masterstroke as he is exactly the sort of player needed on an attritional surface.
Brave may lose Nikhil Chaudhary and Moeen Ali, who are due to perform in the CPL. Chaudhary has been batting at No 3 so that means Marcus Stoinis either returns there or Michael Pepper is parachuted into one of the top three positions. Moeen's spot could go to Saif Zaib.