London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix Prediction & Match Preview – The Hundred 2026
Match summary
London Spirit take on Birmingham Phoenix at Lord’s on 9 August 2026. Our preview covers the likely XIs, pitch, weather, expected scores and a verdict.
Match details
| Match | London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix, 28th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | The Hundred Men’s 2026 |
| Date | 9 Aug 2026 |
| Start time | 5:00 pm GMT / 6:00 pm local |
| Venue | Lord’s, London |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | London Spirit |
| Toss pick | London Spirit |
Matches in this series
Match preview
London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix meet at Lord’s on Sunday 9 August in the 28th match of The Hundred Men’s Competition 2026, with an early-evening start.
Spirit’s likely XI features Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Jonny Bairstow, captain Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis at the top of the order, backed by James Coles, Joseph Moores, David Willey and Jamie Overton. Mason Crane, Matthew Fisher and Adam Milne lead the bowling.
Birmingham Phoenix’s expected line-up has Will Smeed, Mitchell Owen and Joe Clarke at the top, with Rehan Ahmed, Laurie Evans, Donovan Ferreira as captain and Sean Dickson in the middle. Their attack includes Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Wood, Saqib Mahmood and Usman Tariq.
The ground’s true bounce and quick outfield should suit both batting groups, but the large dimensions at Lord’s demand smart running. Fast bowlers may find early movement in the cooler evening air. We expect the contest to be close, with Spirit holding a slight edge.
Lord’s usually offers an even contest. The pitch carries well and has good bounce, so batters can play their shots once set, while seamers find swing and movement with the new ball. Batting generally improves as the innings goes on and the outfield is quick. Spinners can have an impact in the middle overs with changes of pace.
Sunday 9 August is forecast to be dry with sunny intervals, around 23–25°C at the 6:00 pm local start. The chance of rain is very low. A light breeze could help the new-ball bowlers, and a little dew may appear in the evening, slightly favouring the side batting second.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 145–160 | – |
| Second innings | 140–155 | – |
London Spirit
Playing at their home ground with a big-hitting middle order, London Spirit are our pick over Birmingham Phoenix.
Toss pick: London Spirit
FAQ
Who is expected to win London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix?
Our preview picks London Spirit, who have the home advantage at Lord’s and a strong batting line-up.
What is a good score at Lord’s in this match?
Around 155 or more in the first innings looks competitive, while chasing sides will feel positive about totals under 150.
Will dew matter at Lord’s?
Light dew is possible in the second innings and could give the chasing team a slight advantage.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
London Spirit
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius
- Jonny Bairstowwk
- Liam Livingstonec
- Dewald Brevis
- James Coles
- Joseph Moores
- David Willey
- Jamie Overton
- Mason Crane
- Matthew Fisher
- Adam Milne
Birmingham Phoenix
- Will Smeed
- Mitchell Owen
- Joe Clarkewk
- Rehan Ahmed
- Laurie Evans
- Donovan Ferreirac
- Sean Dickson
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Chris Wood
- Saqib Mahmood
- Usman Tariq