The Hundred Men’s 2024: Match 17 Preview – Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave

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Welsh Fire (WEF) will face Southern Brave (SOB) in Match 17 of The Hundred 2024 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on August 5. This match is significant as it pits the top two teams against each other, with Southern Brave currently leading the table and Welsh Fire close behind in second place. Southern Brave have won three of their four matches, with their only loss coming against the Northern Superchargers.

Welsh Fire, meanwhile, have an even record of two wins and two losses from their four games. They were defeated by Oval Invincibles and London Spirit but managed to secure victories against Manchester Originals and Trent Rockets. A win in this match could potentially see the teams swap positions on the table, given the close net run rates.

Match Details:

• Teams: Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave
• Date & Time: Monday, August 5, 11:00 pm IST
• Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• Broadcast & Streaming: Sony Sports Network, SonyLiv (app and website), and FanCode (app and website)

Pitch Report:
The pitch at Sophia Gardens is expected to favor pace bowlers initially, offering movement that could challenge the batsmen. However, the short boundaries will likely encourage batsmen to aim for big shots. The weather forecast indicates overcast conditions with temperatures around 21 degrees Celsius, and no significant threat of rain is expected during the match.

Head-to-Head Record:

• Matches Played: 06
• Wins by Welsh Fire: 01
• Wins by Southern Brave: 05
• Tied: 00
• First Match: July 27, 2021
• Most Recent Match: August 12, 2023

Probable Playing XI:

• Welsh Fire (WEF): Luke Wells, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Clarke, Tom Abell (c), Glenn Phillips, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, David Willey, David Payne, Matt Henry, Mason Crane, Haris Rauf
• Southern Brave (SOB): Alex Davies (wk), James Vince (c), Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard, James Coles, Laurie Evans, Chris Jordan, Craig Overton, Akeal Hosein, Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills

Key Players to Watch:

• Best Batter: James Vince
  James Vince has been outstanding in the tournament, scoring 185 runs in four innings at an average of 61.66 and a strike rate of 158.11. His impressive unbeaten 90 off 47 balls against Birmingham Phoenix featured six boundaries and six sixes.
• Best Bowler: Chris Jordan
  Chris Jordan has been a standout performer for Southern Brave, leading the tournament’s wicket tally with eight wickets in four matches. He has an average of 12 and an economy rate of 8.22, with a strike rate of 8.75 balls, making him particularly dangerous in favorable conditions.

Match Prediction:
Southern Brave are favored to win the match.

Scenarios:

1. If Welsh Fire win the toss and bat first:

• Powerplay Score: 30-40
• Total Score: 130-140

1. If Southern Brave win the toss and bat first:

• Powerplay Score: 50-60
• Total Score: 150-170

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the author’s analysis and understanding. Consider these points and use your judgment when making your predictions.