Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire Prediction & Match Preview – The Hundred Men’s 2026
Match summary
Southern Brave host Welsh Fire in The Hundred Men’s 2026 at the Rose Bowl on 22 July. Likely XIs, pitch and weather notes, and our predicted winner.
Match details
| Match | Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire, 2nd Match |
|---|---|
| Series | The Hundred Men’s 2026 |
| Date | 22 Jul 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | The Rose Bowl, Southampton |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Southern Brave |
| Toss pick | Welsh Fire |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Southern Brave face Welsh Fire at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday 22 July in the second match of The Hundred Men’s 2026. Both teams have strong line-ups, so the evening should produce good cricket in what looks like perfect weather.
Brave are expected to be led by Chris Jordan and build around Jamie Smith, Tom Abell, David Miller and Marcus Stoinis in the batting, with Thomas Rew also in the mix. The attack is rich in quality, with Jofra Archer, Luke Wood and Chris Jordan in the pace group and Adil Rashid as the spin option.
Welsh Fire are likely to be captained by Phil Salt, who could open with Jordan Cox, while Joe Root and Rachin Ravindra offer class in the top order. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Matthew Short and Marco Jansen add depth. The bowling features Chris Woakes, Lockie Ferguson and Sam Cook.
Dew is expected to be minimal, which means the toss should not matter greatly. Wickets in hand during the powerplay are likely to decide who finishes strongest, and a first-innings total of 155 or more should be competitive. We pick Southern Brave.
The Rose Bowl surface is generally even, with something in it for both departments. Quick bowlers often get swing and seam under English cloud, so the powerplay matters. Later the pitch settles and bounce is dependable, before it slows a little and lets spinners and cutters have an effect in the middle overs. Scores of 165–180 are usually competitive and anything over 185–190 is hard to chase.
Excellent weather is forecast for the 6:30 pm local start on 22 July, with temperatures of 25–26°C, sun and cloud, and very little chance of rain. Light winds may give the quicks a slight boost early, while dry conditions favour confident stroke play.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 145–160 | – |
| Second innings | 140–155 | – |
Southern Brave
Southern Brave have a settled batting order and a high-class bowling group, which gives them the edge at home.
Toss pick: Welsh Fire
FAQ
Which team does our preview favour in SB vs WF?
We back Southern Brave, who play at home and have a balanced squad.
Will the toss matter on 22 July?
Little dew is expected, so the toss should have limited influence on the result.
What is a good score at the Rose Bowl?
About 155 or more is competitive in this format here, and 165 or more could be a match-winning total.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Southern Brave
- Jamie Smith
- Thomas Rew
- David Miller
- Marcus Stoinis
- Tom Abell
- Chris Jordan
- Adil Rashid
- Jofra Archer
- Luke Wood
- Saif Zaib
- Nikhil Chaudhary
Welsh Fire
- Phil Salt
- Jordan Cox
- Joe Root
- Rachin Ravindra
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Asa Tribe
- Marco Jansen
- Chris Woakes
- Lockie Ferguson
- Matthew Short
- Sam Cook