Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire Prediction & Match Preview – The Hundred 15th Match
Match summary
Birmingham Phoenix host Welsh Fire at Edgbaston on 1 August 2026 in The Hundred. Likely XIs, pitch and weather notes, expected scores and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire, 15th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | The Hundred Men’s 2026 |
| Date | 1 Aug 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Welsh Fire |
| Toss pick | Birmingham Phoenix |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Birmingham Phoenix take on Welsh Fire in the 15th match of The Hundred Men’s Competition 2026 at Edgbaston on Saturday 1 August. The game begins at 6:30 pm local time.
Phoenix are captained by Donovan Ferreira, with Joe Clarke behind the stumps. Will Smeed, Rehan Ahmed, Laurie Evans, Matthew Montgomery and Mitchell Owen make up the batting, while Mustafizur Rahman, Jordan Thompson, Saqib Mahmood and Usman Tariq form the bowling group. Sean Dickson, Scott Currie, Chris Wood and Tom Helm are also in the squad.
Welsh Fire are led by Philip Salt, who also keeps wicket, and have a high-calibre XI: Matthew Short, Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra and Jordan Cox bat in the top order, Marco Jansen and Chris Woakes add all-round strength, and Lockie Ferguson and Sam Cook lead the attack with Asa Tribe and Ben Kellaway in support.
Edgbaston’s true bounce, fast outfield and short boundaries point to a high-scoring evening. We think Welsh Fire’s depth makes them favourites, while a first-innings total of 165 or more would put real pressure on the chasing side.
Edgbaston usually gives a balanced T20 surface. Fast bowlers can find early swing and seam with the new ball, especially under cloud, while true bounce lets batters play their shots once settled. The pitch gets better for stroke-making as the match goes on, though slower balls and spinners who vary their pace can still be effective in the middle overs. Teams often like to bat first here, with 170–185 considered competitive and totals above 190 hard to chase.
Saturday should be comfortable, with temperatures of about 23–24°C, partly sunny skies and a very low chance of rain. A light breeze may help seam bowlers early, and moderate humidity should keep conditions pleasant. Significant dew is not expected, so bowlers should not struggle with grip in the second innings.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–175 | – |
| Second innings | 150–170 | – |
Welsh Fire
Our preview picks Welsh Fire, with Philip Salt, Joe Root, Matthew Short and Rachin Ravindra in the batting and Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes and Lockie Ferguson leading the attack.
Toss pick: Birmingham Phoenix
FAQ
When is Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire?
At Edgbaston on 1 August 2026, starting at 6:30 pm local time (5:30 pm GMT).
Who do we pick to win?
Our preview picks Welsh Fire, while Birmingham Phoenix are expected to win the toss.
Is it better to bat or bowl first?
With little dew expected, teams may prefer to bat first and set a target.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Birmingham Phoenix
- Donovan Ferreira
- Will Smeed
- Rehan Ahmed
- Laurie Evans
- Matthew Montgomery
- Joe Clarke
- Mitchell Owen
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Jordan Thompson
- Saqib Mahmood
- Usman Tariq
Welsh Fire
- Philip Salt
- Matthew Short
- Joe Root
- Rachin Ravindra
- Jordan Cox
- Marco Jansen
- Asa Tribe
- Ben Kellaway
- Chris Woakes
- Lockie Ferguson
- Sam Cook