Birmingham Phoenix (Men) vs Sunrisers Leeds (Men), Match 24 — The Hundred Mens

Who will win BP vs SL?

Cric First AI picks Sunrisers Leeds · confidence 64/100

• Spinning surface at Edgbaston under lights — pace off, not pace on.
• Mitchell Marsh, SR 182.4, is the innings-shaping threat.
• Joe Weatherley averaging 63.0 anchors a top-heavy Phoenix batting card.
• Toss undecided; 11.83kph breeze and 46% cloud favour neither side heavily.

Leeds' batting depth outweighs Phoenix's, but an unconfirmed XI caps conviction.

Result: SL won by 45 runs. Prediction missed.

Toss and conditions

Toss call still pending — on a gripping surface, dew and second-innings grip decide its real value.

Key factors

Projected score and key matchup

First innings: 148 — Spin-assisted deck trims 15-20 off a normal Edgbaston par.

Mitchell Marsh v Ben Dwarshuis: Dwarshuis has conceded 11 and 18 in recent outings; Marsh will attack early or Phoenix squeeze the powerplay.

Players to watch

Head-to-head and form

Leeds carry the rebrand from a Superchargers side that has troubled Phoenix at both venues.

Birmingham Phoenix (Men): Phoenix lean on Weatherley's tempo and Helm's wicket-taking spikes at home.

Sunrisers Leeds (Men): Leeds pair explosive overseas batting with Topley's proven death control.

The story so far

A spinning Edgbaston pitch turns this into a middle-phase chess match rather than a boundary shootout. Leeds hold the higher-ceiling batting in Marsh and Rickelton; Phoenix need Weatherley to bat deep and make 140-odd feel like 170.

The chase: BP need 170

Sunrisers hold a slim edge — above-par total, spinning deck, Ellis closing. Clarke batting deep flips it.

Sunrisers' 169/7 sits above the Edgbaston par range, and on a gripping surface the last 40 balls will be the hardest to hit through. Phoenix must bank a fast powerplay with Clarke, because catching up against spin at the back end is the losing route here.

Conditions: Edgbaston, clear evening, 19C, 66% humidity, 14 km/h wind — spinning pitch, ball gripping under lights.

• Phoenix need 170 off 100 balls — 8.5 an over.
• Above-par at Edgbaston; spinning surface makes the middle 40 decisive.
• Clear sky, 19C, brisk breeze — light dew possible late.

Joe Clarke v Nathan Ellis: Clarke at 150 strike rate versus Ellis's change-ups; whoever wins the first 25 balls shapes the whole chase.

• Powerplay: Clarke must clear 40 before spin arrives.
• Balls 26-60: rotate strike against grip, don't block.
• Last 20: Ellis's yorkers with required rate climbing.