Welsh Fire host Southern Brave in the men’s leg of Cardiff’s double-header, with Phil Salt’s side chasing a first-ever season double over a Southern Brave team that has won its last two matches after an 0-3 start.
This preview covers squads, conditions at Sophia Gardens, and our prediction for Match 19 of The Hundred Men’s Competition 2026.
Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave – Details
Welsh Fire beat Southern Brave in the season opener at the Rose Bowl and go into the return fixture on the back of a comfortable seven-wicket win over Birmingham Phoenix.
| Match | 19th Match, Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave |
| Tournament | The Hundred Men’s Competition 2026 (6th edition) |
| Date | Monday, 3 August 2026 |
| Venue | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff |
| Start Time | 6:30 PM local / BST, 11:00 PM IST |
Winning Odds for WF vs SB Match 19
| Platform | WF Win Odds | SB Win Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.89 | 2.43 |
| 4rabet | 1.95 | 2.50 |
| BetVibe | 1.85 | 2.38 |
| Stake | 1.82 | 2.31 |
Welsh Fire & Southern Brave Squads for The Hundred 2026
Phil Salt’s Welsh Fire have won three of their first four matches this season on the strength of an England-heavy top order featuring Joe Root and Jordan Cox, with Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson leading a varied pace attack.
Southern Brave, captained by death-bowling specialist Chris Jordan, have found form at the right time behind Jofra Archer’s pace and the batting of Jamie Smith, Marcus Stoinis and David Miller.
Welsh Fire
Phil Salt (c), Marco Jansen, Rachin Ravindra, Chris Woakes, Joe Root, Jordan Cox, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ben Kellaway, Lockie Ferguson, Asa Tribe, Tom Aspinwall, Matt Short, Sam Cook, Dillon Pennington, Jafer Chohan.
Southern Brave
Chris Jordan (c), Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tristan Stubbs, Adil Rashid, David Miller, Luke Wood, Ben McKinney, Thomas Rew, Michael Pepper, Tom Abell, Dan Worrall, Caleb Falconer, Nikhil Chaudhary.
Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave – Pitch & Weather Report
Sophia Gardens has generally offered something for everyone through this campaign, with early bowler assistance giving way to a good batting surface once the shine wears off the ball.
Pitch Report
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Good bounce and seam movement for the quicks with the new ball, before the surface flattens out for stroke play. |
| Batting Conditions | Totals have generally grown through the innings here, with the last five overs the most productive phase for batters. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers benefit early; spin can grip as the pitch wears in the back half of an innings. |
| Toss Factor | An evening start under lights raises the possibility of dew late on, which can make chasing marginally easier. |
Weather Report
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | A high of around 28°C (83°F) during the day, cooling to roughly 17°C (62°F) by the evening session. |
| Weather | Partly cloudy conditions are forecast for Monday evening in Cardiff. |
| Precipitation | A 10% chance of rain — a low risk of any interruption to play. |
| Conditions | Mild and largely dry for the evening fixture, with a light breeze typical of a Cardiff summer. |
Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave – Head-to-Head in The Hundred History
Southern Brave have historically dominated this fixture in The Hundred, although Welsh Fire snapped the winning streak with a six-wicket victory in the reverse fixture earlier The Hundred 2026 Men’s season. The two sides have met 10 times, with Southern Brave winning 8 matches and Welsh Fire claiming 2 victories.
| Matches | Welsh Fire Won | Southern Brave Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
Welsh Fire secured a six-wicket win over Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl earlier in the 2026 season, chasing down 136 with two balls to spare thanks to a match-winning knock from Phil Salt. That victory ended Southern Brave’s run of seven consecutive wins in this rivalry.
Players to Watch for Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave Match 19
● Phil Salt (WF) — Welsh Fire’s captain and an explosive opener, his unbeaten 47 won the reverse fixture against this same opponent.
● Joe Root (WF) — In outstanding touch, having top-scored with 58 to guide Welsh Fire to a seven-wicket win over Birmingham Phoenix in his last outing.
● Lockie Ferguson (WF) — The pace spearhead has been among the wickets and offers control with the new ball.
● Jofra Archer (SB) — One of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the competition, capable of turning a game in a single spell.
● Jamie Smith (SB) — Southern Brave’s top-order anchor, central to their recent run of two wins on the bounce.
● Marcus Stoinis (SB) — The Australian all-rounder gives the Brave balance and has been a key contributor with both bat and ball this season.
Winner Prediction
Welsh Fire go into this rematch with the psychological edge of having already beaten Southern Brave once this season, and Joe Root’s rediscovered form gives them a settled, in-form top order.
Southern Brave have shown genuine improvement with back-to-back wins after a rocky start, and Jofra Archer’s pace makes them dangerous on any surface, but Welsh Fire’s recent consistency and home comfort in Cardiff make them the narrow favourites to complete the season double.
