Sunrisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire Prediction & Match Preview – The Hundred 2026, Match 27
Match summary
Sunrisers Leeds meet Welsh Fire at Headingley on 9 August 2026. Our match preview covers likely XIs, pitch, weather, expected scores and a verdict.
Match details
| Match | Sunrisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire, 27th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | The Hundred Men’s 2026 |
| Date | 9 Aug 2026 |
| Start time | 1:30 pm GMT / 2:30 pm local |
| Venue | Headingley, Leeds |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Welsh Fire |
| Toss pick | Sunrisers Leeds |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Sunrisers Leeds welcome Welsh Fire to Headingley on Sunday 9 August for the 27th match of The Hundred Men’s Competition 2026. It is an afternoon fixture, with cloud possible early and conditions otherwise mild.
Leeds have a powerful top six on paper, led by captain Zak Crawley with Mitchell Marsh, Ryan Rickelton, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence and Matthew Revis. Their attack is built around Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Nathan Ellis, Reece Topley and the spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Welsh Fire answer with Philip Salt, who captains and keeps wicket, alongside Matthew Short, Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra and Jordan Cox. Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes, Lockie Ferguson and Sam Cook provide a quality pace group.
With both teams strong in the first half of the innings, the powerplay and the middle phase should decide the game. We expect seam movement early and easier batting later, and rate Welsh Fire marginally ahead.
Headingley is expected to give a fair contest. Seamers should get swing and movement with the new ball, especially under cloud, before the surface becomes better for batting. A quick outfield and shorter square boundaries help boundary hitters, while spinners can still contribute in the middle overs by varying pace.
Sunday 9 August should be pleasant in Leeds, around 22°C at the 2:30 pm local start, with partly cloudy skies and some sunny spells. Rain is unlikely, and a gentle breeze could help the seamers early. Dew is not expected to matter in an afternoon game.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 150–165 | – |
| Second innings | 145–160 | – |
Welsh Fire
Welsh Fire’s top order of Salt, Short, Root and Ravindra gives them a narrow edge over a strong Leeds side.
Toss pick: Sunrisers Leeds
FAQ
Who is predicted to win Sunrisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire?
Our preview gives Welsh Fire a narrow edge, helped by a top order that includes Philip Salt, Matthew Short and Joe Root.
What is a competitive total at Headingley?
A first-innings score of around 155 or more should be competitive, and chasing sides will feel confident if they keep wickets in hand.
Is rain likely to interrupt the match?
The forecast shows a low chance of rain, so a full game is expected.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Sunrisers Leeds
- Mitchell Marsh
- Ryan Rickeltonwk
- Zak Crawleyc
- Harry Brook
- Dan Lawrence
- Matthew Revis
- Brydon Carse
- Matthew Potts
- Nathan Ellis
- Reece Topley
- Abrar Ahmed
Welsh Fire
- Philip Saltc, wk
- Matthew Short
- Joe Root
- Rachin Ravindra
- Jordan Cox
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Ben Kellaway
- Marco Jansen
- Chris Woakes
- Lockie Ferguson
- Sam Cook