The Oval Invincibles are aiming to kick off their campaign with a strong start. Conversely, the Birmingham Phoenix are determined to establish their superiority right from the beginning.
Preview
The reigning champions Oval Invincibles will face off against the Birmingham Phoenix in the opening match of The Hundred Men 2024 contest. This first game of the tournament is scheduled to take place at the Kennington Oval in London on July 23. Both sides are looking forward to a successful start to their campaign with a victory in this crucial match.
Regarding the performance of both Oval Invincibles in the previous edition, they clinched the title by winning 4 straight matches, including a decisive final against the Manchester Originals by 14 runs.
On the flip side, the Birmingham Phoenix had a varied performance in the previous season. They secured 2 wins and lost 3 matches in their last 5 games. Phoenix Men concluded their 2023 season with a 77-run victory over the London Spirit.
Pitch Report
The Kennington Oval in London offers a balanced playing field, providing ample edge for the batting team, particularly in the initial innings. Looking at the 17 T20Is hosted here, the team batting first has emerged victorious on 9 occasions, while the team batting second has won 7 matches. Therefore, the captain opting to bat first will strategize to challenge the opposition with a difficult chase.
Oval Invincibles (Men)
Sam Billings (C), D Ferreira, Jordan Cox, DJ Malan, WG Jacks, HD Ward, HD Ward, SM Curran, TK Curran, A Zampa, S Mahmood, SH Johnson
Birmingham Phoenix (Men)
Jacob Bethell, AHT Donald, LS Livingstone, MM Ali (C), Benny Howell, Sean Abbott, Dan Mousley, JK Fuller, LPJ Kimber (wk), AF Milne, Tim Southee
