Birmingham Phoenix
Riding a wave of momentum, Birmingham Phoenix currently sit in third place on the points table with four wins and two losses. They come into this match on the back of a strong five-wicket victory over Welsh Fire, having successfully chased down a 147-run target with seven balls to spare.
Captain Moeen Ali (60) and Ben Duckett (54*) were the standout performers with the bat in that game, both scoring crucial half-centuries.
However, the middle order faltered, with Jamie Smith (13), Liam Livingstone (4), Dan Mousley (0), and Jacob Bethell (0) all departing for disappointing scores. They'll be looking to shore up this weakness and deliver a more consistent performance in the next match.
The Phoenix's bowling attack is formidable, featuring pacers like Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Sean Abbott, and Chris Wood. Abbott was the star in the last game, earning the Player of the Match award with a four-wicket haul.
Milne and Wood chipped in with a wicket each, although Southee went wicketless. The Phoenix will aim to maintain this collective bowling strength as they pursue their fifth win of the tournament.
Trent Rockets
On the other hand, Trent Rockets find themselves in fifth place after six games, with an even split of three wins and three losses.
They started the tournament with back-to-back victories but have since only managed one win in their last four matches. They enter this clash after a tense two-wicket loss to Southern Brave.
The Rockets boast a powerful batting lineup featuring Tom Banton, Adam Lyth, Alex Hales, Joe Root, and Rovman Powell, under the leadership of captain Lewis Gregory.
While each player showed promise in their last outing, turning these starts into substantial scores remains a challenge—a challenge they'll be eager to overcome as they chase their fourth win.
Their bowling unit, including Luke Wood, Imad Wasim, Sam Cook, Rashid Khan, and John Turner, has shown moments of brilliance.
Wood, Wasim, and Cook have been consistent performers, but Rashid Khan has had a mixed run, notably being hit for five consecutive sixes by Kieron Pollard in a critical moment in the previous match. He'll be eager to bounce back as the Rockets look to secure their fourth win.
