3 reasons why Birmingham Phoenix are favorites to win the Men’s Hundred 2024
The Hundred Men’s competition 2024 has entered its final week. With one team having qualified for the playoffs and three teams fighting for the remaining two spots, the competition is getting intense.
Birmingham Phoenix are one of the teams that has gained momentum at the right time and needs to win against Manchester Originals in their last league game to qualify for the playoffs.
On Monday, August 12, Birmingham faced the Trent Rockets in the 28th match of The Hundred. The Birmingham Phoenix’s captain, Moeen Ali, won the toss and chose to field first. Tim Southee was brilliant, as he took five wickets in his spell of 20 balls and conceded only 12 runs. Courtesy of a 51-run innings from debutant Tom Alsop, the Trent Rockets scored 118 runs in their 100 balls.
In response, it turned out to be an easy chase for Birmingham, as they won the game by six wickets with seven balls remaining. As Moeen Ali’s side is going in the right direction, we will look at three reasons why the Birmingham Phoenix are the favorites to win the Men’s Hundred in 2024.
#1 Ben Duckett leading the way with the bat
England opener Ben Duckett has been carrying his great form from the Test series against the West Indies. The 29-year-old is one of the reasons why Birmingham have found their way back into the tournament.
Duckett is second on the list of leading run-getters in The Hundred Men’s 2024. The left-handed batter has scored 240 runs in five innings at an average of 80 and a strike rate of 175.18. He has also smashed two half-centuries, with 92 being his highest.
The England cricketer has been in fine form and has consistently provided a great start since the time he joined the Phoenix. The Birmingham fans will be hoping that Duckett continues to play the way he does in the coming games as well.
#2 Peaking at the right time with overseas players playing a vital role
No doubt Birmingham Phoenix have come back strongly in the tournament, winning their last three games. Leading the way are their three overseas pacers, Tim Southee (who came in as a replacement for Naseem Shah), Adam Milne, and Sean Abbott.
Tim Southee has stepped up brilliantly in the absence of the Pakistan pacer. The New Zealand Test captain is fourth on the list of highest wicket-takers in the tournament. The right-arm seamer has picked up 13 wickets in seven games with a brilliant economy of 6.60.
Supporting him is his countryman, Adam Milne. The Kiwi has bowled with great pace throughout the tournament and has seven scalps to his name.
The last name in the trio is that of Australian bowler Sean Abbott. The Birmingham pacer has taken nine wickets in seven games and is playing a crucial role in his team’s success.
#3 Well-balanced squad
The Birmingham Phoenix boast a well-balanced team. They have explosive openers in the form of Ben Duckett and captain Moeen Ali. In the middle order, Birmingham have the keeper-batter Jamie Smith, who impressed everyone in his debut Test series against the West Indies.
Another vital player on the list is Liam Livingstone, who hasn’t played to his expectations but can change the complexion of the game on his day. Fans will be hoping he comes in handy in the coming games.
All-rounders Dan Mousley, Jacob Bethell and Benny Howell are playing their roles brilliantly. Meanwhile, the trio of overseas pacers have been in great form. The Birmingham Phoenix can pose a great threat and are one of the favorites to win The Hundred in 2024.