The Hundred Tips Matches 31 and 32: Desperate times mean desperate measures for two teams

Welsh Fire v London Spirit The Hundred Tips

Click here for Welsh Fire v London Spirit odds
Wednesday 12 August, 15:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Welsh Fire have to beat London Spirit to have any chance of finishing in the top two. And it would have to be a big win. So big that, in all probability, this is almost a dead rubber.

Fire's net run rate is the second-worst in the competition and there is almost no hope that they make it without assistance from results elsewhere. MI London must lose to Birmingham Phoenix while Manchester Originals must have lost to Sunrisers Leeds (Tuesday) if mathematical gymnastics are not required.

Two games ago Fire were in a strong position but they lost form at the wrong time. They were hammered by Giants by nine wickets and then 71 runs against Leeds. Those two results strongly suggest they have been found wanting when up against better teams.

The good news is that Spirit are not a good team. They are likely to avoid finishing bottom due to net run rate but it has been a desperately disappointing campaign. Coach Andy Flower has blamed the Lord's surface saying it doesn't have a defined characteristic to aid home advantage.

That is not the case in Cardiff where we can expect a low-scoring, attritional affair on a wicket which has historically been one of the toughest for batters. It is unlikely to assist Fire if they bat first and go hell for leather in their unlikely qualification quest.

In an ideal world, Spirit would bat first and we would be on unders first-innings runs. The Betfair Sportsbook offer under 147.5 at 5/61.84. That has won 13 from 21. We would be slightly nervous about betting it pre-toss if Fire were to get first use and to throw caution to the wind, not that they are particularly set up for explosive scoring.  That may be one of the reasons why they will, eventually, miss out on progression.

Instead we can take the lower line on Spirit runs for the match at 142.5. There is no way their batting is reliable enough to fret too much about the wager. That coupled with a stodgy Cardiff surface means it may be the play.

Birmingham Phoenix v MI London The Hundred Tips

Click here for Birmingham Phoenix v MI London odds
Wednesday 12 August 18.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

MI London would have been sweating before this match. If Super Giants have beaten Sunrisers, their qualification hopes would have suffered a major blow.

Even if Super Giants win by just 1 run, or off the last ball of the match, MI London would have to beat Phoenix by about 33 runs or with 20 balls to spare to go above them on NRR. 

They will at least know exactly what is required. And that should be made easier by the fact they play a Phoenix team which is the worst in the competition. Expect MI London to be explosive with the bat if they get the opportunity in the first dig.

They have retained Nic Pooran, who is supposed to skippering Trinidad in the CPL. But they have lost Sherfane Rutherford, who has left to play for Barbados. Rashid Khan remains with Afghanistan.

At this stage it is difficult to bet with confidence given the various permutations or scenarios. There is a wager which does catch the eye, however. Betfair Sportsbook offering 4/15.00 that MIL have the highest opening partnership, highest first five balls score and highest 30-ball score.

Bookmark Betting.Betfair for cricket tips on all the big games and tournaments