Southern Brave Women vs Welsh Fire Women face off in the Hundred Women at Utilita Bowl, Southampton on 28 August, with play beginning at 19:30 IST (15:00 UK time). With both sides pushing for knockout qualification, this encounter could prove decisive in shaping the standings of the women’s competition.
Form Guide
Southern Brave Women
The Brave have been one of the standout teams of the competition, combining consistent batting depth with a disciplined bowling unit. Their top order has provided explosive starts, while the middle overs are controlled by quality spinners. At Southampton, they are difficult to beat, thriving on local support and familiarity with conditions.
- Strong batting order led by internationally experienced stars.
- Bowling attack balanced between seamers and spinners, allowing flexibility in strategy.
- Home record impressive, with consistency across all departments.
Welsh Fire Women
The Fire have shown resilience in this year’s tournament, winning key games through determined batting and efficient bowling. While their batting relies on a few mainstays to set platforms, their bowling unit has been economical, capable of building pressure through spin and sharp fielding. Consistency remains their biggest test against stronger opposition.
- Depend heavily on top-order partnerships to build momentum.
- Spin attack often central to their defence of modest totals.
- Capable of upsets, but need all-round contributions to beat top-tier sides.
Key Players
Southern Brave Women
- Smriti Mandhana – Explosive opener who sets the tone with elegant strokeplay and rapid scoring.
- Danni Wyatt – Aggressive batter capable of match-winning knocks at the top of the order.
- Anya Shrubsole – Experienced seamer who leads the attack with swing and tactical nous.
Welsh Fire Women
- Tammy Beaumont – In-form opener and captain, central to Fire’s batting fortunes.
- Hayley Matthews – Powerful allrounder who contributes with explosive batting and useful off-spin.
- Shabnim Ismail – Veteran fast bowler, dangerous with the new ball and a key wicket-taking threat.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The Utilita Bowl generally offers a fair contest between bat and ball, with true bounce for stroke-makers and assistance for seamers under lights. Spinners may also find grip as the surface wears, particularly in the second innings. The weather forecast for Southampton is dry and clear, setting up excellent conditions for a full and entertaining match.
Southern Brave Women vs Welsh Fire Women – Prediction
Southern Brave’s balance across batting and bowling departments makes them strong favourites, particularly at home. If Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt fire at the top, they will likely set an imposing total or chase with ease. For Welsh Fire, much depends on Tammy Beaumont and Hayley Matthews, but the Brave’s greater depth gives them the advantage. Prediction: Southern Brave Women to win convincingly in Southampton.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Captain: Smriti Mandhana – consistent run-scorer, offering explosive fantasy returns.
- Vice-captain: Tammy Beaumont – key batter for Welsh Fire, capable of building a big score.
- Value pick: Anya Shrubsole – swing bowler with wicket-taking ability, particularly in powerplays.
