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Southern Brave Women host Welsh Fire Women in the second match of The Hundred Women 2026 at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, with both sides under new leadership this season. Sophie Molineux takes over the Brave captaincy after their run to last year’s final, while Sophie Devine leads a rebuilt Welsh Fire side looking to bounce back from a difficult 2025. In this preview you will find the match details, squad changes, pitch report and two SB-W vs WF-W fantasy team options, one safe and one for grand leagues.
For Indian viewers, the match starts at 7.30 PM IST, a 2.00 PM start in Southampton.
SB-W vs WF-W Match Details
Match: Southern Brave Women vs Welsh Fire Women, 2nd Match, The Hundred Women 2026
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 7.30 PM IST | 2.00 PM local, UK
Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Streaming in India: Sony LIV
TV in India: Sony Sports Ten Network
Southern Brave: Molineux Takes Over After Final Heartbreak
Southern Brave finished as runners-up last season, losing the final to Sunrisers Leeds, then known as Northern Superchargers. Sophie Molineux, who captained Australia to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup title, takes over the leadership this year after being picked up for £47,500 at the auction. She inherits a genuinely strong squad, with Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues and Lizelle Lee giving Brave one of the most dangerous top orders in the competition, backed up by England internationals Sarah Glenn and Lauren Bell.
Welsh Fire: A Fresh Start Under Devine
Welsh Fire finished bottom of the table last season with just one win from eight matches, and the response has been a significant reset. Sophie Devine, who retired from international cricket after this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, was the joint-most expensive signing of the auction at £210,000 and takes over the captaincy from Tammy Beaumont, who has moved on to Birmingham Phoenix. Devine leads a squad built around promising young talent in Freya Kemp and Georgia Voll, alongside the experience of Sarah Bryce and Georgia Wareham, as Welsh Fire look to turn last year’s struggles around.
SB-W vs WF-W Head To Head
Southern Brave lead the head to head 6 wins to 3 across the last ten meetings between the two sides, including a win in their most recent meeting last season. With both squads reshaped by the auction and both teams under new captains, this record carries limited weight heading into the new season.
Rose Bowl Pitch Report: Pace Dominant, Chasing Tricky
The Rose Bowl has hosted 11 matches in The Hundred Women’s competition, with teams batting first winning 55 percent of the time against 45 percent bowling first. The average first innings score of 128 suggests a surface that rewards steady batting rather than pure power hitting.
Rose Bowl venue stats:
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 11 |
| Won batting first | 55% |
| Won bowling first | 45% |
| Average 1st innings score | 128 |
| Average 2nd innings score | 115 |
| Highest total | 161/6 by Southern Brave vs MI London (as Oval Invincibles) |
| Lowest total | 72 all out by MI London (as Oval Invincibles) vs Southern Brave |
| Highest chased | 153/4 by London Spirit vs Southern Brave |
Recent matches at the Rose Bowl:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 32nd Hundred Balls, The Hundred 2025 (men): Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire | Southern Brave won |
| 32nd Hundred Balls, The Hundred W 2025: Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire | Southern Brave won |
| 19th Hundred Balls, The Hundred 2025 (men): MI London vs Southern Brave | MI London won |
Pace has taken 61 percent of wickets at this ground across the last 10 matches against 39 percent for spin, a split that should suit both attacks given their seam-heavy overseas options.
Southampton Weather Report For SB-W vs WF-W
Mostly sunny conditions are expected, with humidity around 79 percent and temperature close to 13°C. Rain chance is low at around 25 percent, so a full match is likely.
SB-W vs WF-W Probable Playing XIs
Southern Brave Women (probable): Laura Wolvaardt, Maia Bouchier, Jemimah Rodrigues, Lizelle Lee, Rebecca Odgers (wk), Sophie Molineux (c), Sarah Glenn, Ellie Anderson, Lauren Bell, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Isabelle Wong
Welsh Fire Women (probable): Ella McCaughan, Georgia Voll, Sophie Devine (c), Sarah Bryce (wk), Freya Kemp, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Sophia Smale, Emily Arlott, Fi Morris, Grace Thompson
With both squads freshly assembled through the auction, the actual combinations used may take a match or two to settle.
Key Player Battles
Laura Wolvaardt vs Sophie Devine: Wolvaardt’s elegant top-order batting against Devine’s experienced medium pace sets up an early contest that could shape the powerplay for Southern Brave.
Jemimah Rodrigues vs Freya Kemp: Rodrigues has been one of the standout middle-order batters in world cricket, and Kemp’s left-arm pace offers Welsh Fire a genuine wicket-taking option against her in the middle overs.
Sophie Molineux vs Sophie Devine: Two of the format’s most accomplished all-rounders lead their sides for the first time this season, both with something to prove after contrasting 2025 campaigns.
SB-W vs WF-W Fantasy Team (Small Leagues)
Wicketkeeper: Sarah Bryce
Batters: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Jemimah Rodrigues (VC), Lizelle Lee
All Rounders: Sophie Molineux, Sophie Devine
Bowlers: Sarah Glenn, Freya Kemp, Lauren Bell, Georgia Wareham, Isabelle Wong
Wolvaardt is captain on the back of her consistent form at the top of the order, and Rodrigues takes the vice-captaincy as one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in the competition. Molineux and Devine cover the all-round bases as both sides’ new captains, and the bowling attack blends the best spin and seam options from either team.
SB-W vs WF-W Fantasy Team (Grand Leagues)
For grand leagues, this second SB-W vs WF-W fantasy team brings in Maia Bouchier and Georgia Voll as lower-owned alternatives to the headline names.
Wicketkeeper: Rebecca Odgers — differential
Batters: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Maia Bouchier (VC) — differential, Georgia Voll — differential
All Rounders: Sophie Devine, Heather Graham — differential
Bowlers: Sarah Glenn, Ellie Anderson — differential, Freya Kemp, Sophia Smale — differential
Bouchier and Voll both offer top-order upside without the ownership Wolvaardt or Rodrigues are likely to draw. Ellie Anderson and Sophia Smale are the wildcard bowling picks, both capable of a breakout performance in a tournament opener where form lines are still being established.
Also Read: MIL-W vs SNL-W Fantasy Team, 1st Match: Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Report And Prediction
SB-W vs WF-W Match Prediction
Southern Brave go into this match with more continuity from a squad that reached last year’s final, and their top order of Wolvaardt, Rodrigues and Lee is arguably the strongest batting unit in the competition. Welsh Fire have made bold changes after a poor 2025, and Devine’s leadership combined with genuine young talent in Kemp and Voll gives them real upside, but a settled combination typically takes time to click. Southern Brave get the edge here on squad strength and recent form, though Welsh Fire’s freshened up group means this is far from a foregone conclusion.
FAQs
Q. When is the SB-W vs WF-W match?
A. Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, starting at 2.00 PM local time, which is 7.30 PM IST.
Q. Where can I watch SB-W vs WF-W live in India?
A. The match will be telecast on Sony Sports Ten Network and streamed live on Sony LIV.
Q. Who is Southern Brave Women’s captain?
A. Sophie Molineux captains Southern Brave Women, taking over after leading Australia to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup title.
Q. Who is Welsh Fire Women’s captain?
A. Sophie Devine captains Welsh Fire Women, taking over from Tammy Beaumont, who has moved to Birmingham Phoenix.
Q. How did both teams perform last season?
A. Southern Brave finished as runners-up, losing the final to Sunrisers Leeds (then Northern Superchargers). Welsh Fire finished bottom of the table with one win from eight matches.