• Southern Brave made a winning start with a one-wicket victory over Manchester Originals

• Birmingham Phoenix suffered a six-wicket loss in their opener

• James Vince top-scored in both of Brave's matches against the Phoenix last season

• Recommended bet: James Vince - Brave Top Run Scorer

Southern Brave host Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday in a repeat of last season's Hundred Eliminator, with the two sides having made contrasting starts to the competition this time around.

The Brave survived a nervy nip-and-tuck battle with Manchester Originals on Wednesday, winning by the slenderest of margins - one wicket with one ball remaining - to get off the mark at the first attempt.

In contrast, the Phoenix never quite recovered from a terrible start when reduced to 26-4 off 30 balls, with Trent Rockets cruising to a six-wicket success with 22 balls remaining.

There was not much to separate these two sides in last season's Eliminator as a Super Five was needed after they had tied at 126, with the Brave progressing to the final, although they had enjoyed a rather more comfortable 32-run win during the regular season.

The latest Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

The Brave will hope for more success from their top order, perhaps not least from their captain James Vince, who only made six against the Originals.

Jason Roy top-scored with 30, but they were indebted to their lower order for that opening win as Craig Overton struck an unbeaten 18 off just eight balls to steer his side home.

Tymal Mills, who also clubbed eight off four balls, was the pick of the bowling attack as he took 3-22 off 20 balls, with the Brave again looking strong with ball in hand.

In similar fashion, Birmingham's top order simply has to do better after slipping to 26-4 off 30 balls, with Liam Livingstone playing a different game to his struggling team-mates after smashing 39 off 30 balls.

Unlike the Brave though, the Phoenix bowlers struggled to contain the Rockets top order and they need to step up in all departments.

The stats

After winning the toss in their opener, the Phoenix slumped to 26-4 off 30 balls, with four players dismissed for single-figure scores, while England opener Ben Duckett was out for a duck.

Liam Livingstone was Birmingham's only top-six batter to strike at better than a run a ball against the Rockets.

The Brave beat the Phoenix by 32 runs in the regular season in 2024, with Vince smashing an unbeaten 90 before Chris Jordan took 3-19.

Vince then top-scored for the Brave in the Eliminator with 43 in their innings of 126-6, with Mills taking 3-23 in Birmingham's reply of 126-7 in which Livingstone struck 55.

The latest Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Given their opening performances, there is a feeling that the Brave are deserved favourites, particularly given their strength in the bowling department and recent record against these opponents.

However, they are a little on the short side in this format in which almost anything can happen and a chance is taken on Vince finding his form after an opening disappointment.

The Brave captain made six off eight balls, a game in which Phil Salt struck 60 to usurp him at the top of the all-time leading runscoring charts, but he has been a consistent performer since the competition's inception, scoring 986 runs at an average of 32.86.

His highest score of 90 not out came against the Phoenix last season, while he also top-scored for his side in the Eliminator and he looks good enough value to repeat the trick here.

Back James Vince to score the most runs for Southern Brave at 23/10 with LiveScore Bet