Birmingham Phoenix v Trent Rockets predictions: Back Smeed to smite Rockets

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for Birmingham Phoenix v Trent Rockets in The Hundred men's and women's matches on Monday.

Where to watch

Birmingham Phoenix v Trent Rockets
Women's Hundred
Sky Sports Cricket, Main Event & Mix, 3pm Monday
Men's Hundred
Sky Sports Cricket & Mix, 6.30pm Monday

Best bets

Will Smeed to score over 20.5 runs
2pts 5-6 bet365

Birmingham Phoenix Women to have higher score in first 25 balls
2pts 4-5 bet365

Match previews

Trent Rockets have won their first three matches in the men's Hundred and bookmakers are anticipating a tight contest between them and 2021 runners-up Birmingham Phoenix.

The Rockets beat the Phoenix by six wickets in their opening match this season before Dawid Malan's unbeaten innings of 88 and 98 propelled them to victories over Northern Superchargers and Manchester Originals.

However, the Phoenix, with England all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali in their ranks, have recovered well from that opening defeat, thrashing holders Southern Brave and holding their nerve to defend a target of 131 against Welsh Fire on Saturday.

Young opener Will Smeed set up the Edgbaston victory over the Brave with the first century in Hundred history. Smeed struck an unbeaten 101 off 50 balls against a top-class bowling attack and, having cracked 36 from just 13 balls in this fixture last summer, he is worth backing to exceed a runs line of 20.5.

The Phoenix and the Rockets also look serious trophy contenders in the women's Hundred and both teams won their opening matches impressively.

New Zealand opener and Birmingham captain Sophie Devine led from the front with 48 off 25 in their win over Welsh Fire and the Phoenix are a tempting bet to outscore their opponents in the first 25 balls.

Birmingham's opening bowlers Sophie Molineux and Issy Wong conceded only 27 runs from 35 deliveries in Cardiff and the Rockets' batters mustered just 119-5 against Manchester Originals before Alana King bailed them out with a match-winning spell of leg-spin bowling.

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