Southern Brave vs Manchester Super Giants Preview & Tips - Super Giants to secure crucial triumph over the Brave

Manchester Super Giants hammered Welsh Fire by nine wickets in their last game as they brought to an end a three-game losing run. 

Batting first, the Brave lost both Jamie Smith and Ben McKinney for ducks in a very poor start. Marcus Stoinis impressed with a score of 55 from 39, but he was given little support elsewhere as the Brave crumbled. While they did remove Phil Salt (four), Joe Root (17) and Rachin Ravindra (zero) cheaply, their inability to see the back of Matt Short (60 not out) proved costly as he led his side home. 

This defeat was their fourth in six matches and means they are one of the sides chasing a top three spot. A win in this one would put them level on points with the Super Giants in third, but they have not been consistent enough to convince me that they can outscore a strong Super Giants side. 

While I predict a tight match between the pair, I am backing against the Brave in this one. 

With the Fire batting first, they laboured their way to 155/4. Phil Salt (48 from 37) and Matt Short (71 from 47) put on an opening stand of 125, but Salt's wicket started the collapse as the Fire went from 125 without loss after 82 deliveries to 155/4 after 100 deliveries. In reply, Tim Seifert (62 not out from 36) and Jos Buttler (51 not out from 20) both notched half-centuries as they got home with 31 deliveries to spare. 

This big win has seen the Super Giants move up to 12 points. While third on the ladder is incredibly tight with a number of teams jostling for position, the Super Giants will feel they have what it takes to secure the final playoff spot. 

With a win in their last game and a Brave side that lost in their last outing, I am backing the travelling side to secure a potentially season defining win.