Table-toppers Welsh Fire have a prime opportunity to further solidify their lead at the top with a victory over Northern Superchargers at Cardiff on Thursday. With four wins out of five matches, the Fire are in excellent form while the second-placed Superchargers have triumphed in three matches and had one draw.
LAST 5 MATCHESWELSH FIRE: W L W W W
NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS: L T W W W
THE LIKELY PLAYING XIs FOR WELSH FIRE AND NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERSWELSH FIRE likely XIBatters: Sophia Dunkley, Ella McCaughan
Allrounders: Hayley Matthews, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Elwiss, Phoebe Franklin
Wicketkeeper: Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Bryce
Bowlers: Beth Langston, Freya Davies, Georgia Davis
NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS likely XIBatters: Davina Perrin, Hollie Armitage, Phoebe Litchfield
Allrounders: Annabel Sutherland, Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Wareham
Wicketkeeper: Bess Heath
Bowlers: Linsey Smith, Lucy Higham, Grace Ballinger, Kate Cross
Statistical Performance (Welsh Fire)Sarah BryceIn 20 innings, Sarah Bryce has scored 385 runs in The Hundred at an average of 35.00. Her strike rate stands at 109.68, including one fifty. She is a key batter in the Fire lineup.
SARAH BRYCE IN THE HUNDREDINNINGS - 20RUNS - 385AVERAGE – 35.00STRIKE RATE – 109.6850s/100s – 1/02. Freya DaviesIn 25 innings, Freya Davies has taken 23 wickets in the tournament. She maintains a strike rate of 18.69, with an economy rate of 7.54 and an average of 23.52.
FREYA DAVIES IN THE HUNDREDINNINGS - 25WICKETS - 23STRIKE RATE – 18.69ECONOMY RATE – 7.54AVERAGE – 23.52Players Who Can Make a Difference (Welsh Fire)1. Hayley MatthewsHayley Matthews has been in good form in this Hundred edition so far, by scoring more than hundred runs and chipping in with wickets too.
2. Sophia DunkleyAn experienced batter in the Fire top-order, also having had success in the tournament history as one of the leading run-scorers. In this edition, she has score 125 runs off five matches including a fifty.
Statistical Performance (Northern Superchargers)1. Phoebe LitchfieldIn 14 innings, Phoebe Litchfield has amassed 404 runs in the women’s Hundred, with an average of 31.07 and a strike rate of 131.16.
PHOEBE LITCHFIELD IN THE HUNDREDINNINGS - 14RUNS - 404AVERAGE – 31.07STRIKE RATE - 131.1650s/100s – 1/02. Linsey SmithIn 25 innings, Linsey Smith has claimed 31 wickets in The Hundred. Her strike rate is an impressive 15.19, with an economy rate of 6.59 and an average of 16.70.
LINSEY SMITH IN THE HUNDREDINNINGS - 25WICKETS - 31STRIKE RATE – 15.19ECONOMY RATE – 6.59AVERAGE – 16.70Players Who Can Make a Difference (Northern Superchargers)1. Annabel SutherlandAnnabel Sutherland has been brilliant for the Superchargers this season contributing in both the departments. She has scored more than 160 runs and picked 10 wickets.
2. Kate CrossThe top-three wicket-takers this season of the tournament are from the Superchargers. Kate Cross is one of them, having picked eight wickets in five innings at an average of 12.12.
Team Head to HeadBoth teams have played three matches against each other in The Hundred, with Northern Superchargers having won two matches and Welsh Fire one.
FIRE V SUPERCHARGERS - HEAD TO HEAD RECORDMATCHES: 3 FIRE WON: 1SUPERCHARGERS WON: 2 NO RESULT: 0Venue and PitchSophia Gardens in Cardiff has hosted 12 matches in the Women’s Hundred, of which nine times teams winning the toss have opted to bowl. The average first innings score at this venue is 126 and in second innings is 118. The highest score in Women’s Hundred at Cardiff is 181 and the lowest score is 84.
MATCH PREDICTIONThere is not much to separate both teams on current form this season, however, Welsh Fire will have a slight edge with 70% chance to win the match.
Fantasy XIWicketkeeper: Sarah Bryce
Batters: Sophia Dunkley, Phoebe Litchfield, Ella McCaughan, Davina Perrin
Allrounders: Hayley Matthews (VC), Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland (C)
Bowlers: Linsey Smith, Freya Davies, Georgia Davis
BACKUP PLAYERS:BATTER – Hollie Armitage
BOWLER – Lucy Higham
ALL-ROUNDER – Alice Davidson-Richards
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