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BP vs WF Fantasy Team prediction becomes an important topic as Birmingham Phoenix host Welsh Fire at Edgbaston on Saturday afternoon. Both teams badly want the win for different reasons. Phoenix have managed just one win from three and sit near the bottom, while Welsh Fire have won two of three and can climb into the top two with another result. Donovan Ferreira leads a Phoenix side that has had a rough run of injuries, while Phil Salt captains a Welsh Fire team stacked with batting.
BP vs WF Match Details
Match: Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire, 15th Match, The Hundred Men 2026
Date: Saturday, 1 August 2026
Time: 2:30 PM Local Time / 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham
Streaming in India: JioHotstar
TV in India: Star Sports Network
Recent Form
Birmingham Phoenix have blown hot and cold. They smashed 214/4 to beat Trent Rockets early on, one of the highest totals in the tournament’s history, but have struggled since, losing to Manchester Super Giants and most recently to Southern Brave, where they were bowled out for 116 chasing 128. Welsh Fire have been steadier. They beat Southern Brave and MI London in their first three games before running into Trent Rockets last time out, where they were held to 122/7 and lost by six wickets. Both teams come in off a defeat, so whoever bounces back fastest has the edge.
Points Table
Welsh Fire sit higher, with two wins from three games and eight points, though their net run rate has taken a hit. Birmingham Phoenix are down on one win from three and four points, with a poor net run rate after the Southern Brave loss. A win here would push Welsh Fire toward the top two, while Phoenix need it just to stay in the playoff hunt.
BP vs WF Head to Head Record
Birmingham Phoenix lead the head to head 3-2 over Welsh Fire across the last five meetings. The most recent came last season, when Welsh Fire chased down Phoenix’s 138/9 with ease, winning by eight wickets. Before that, Phoenix had won the 2024 meeting. It’s a close rivalry, with home advantage often making the difference.
Squads
Birmingham Phoenix: Donovan Ferreira captains the side. He took over after named captain Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the whole tournament with a knee injury picked up on England duty, so Bethell is not available. The side has also lost Mustafizur Rahman, who withdrew injured. Joe Weatherley came in as Bethell’s batting replacement and Ben Dwarshuis replaced Mustafizur. Full available squad: Donovan Ferreira (c), Joe Clarke (wk), Will Smeed, Laurie Evans, Sean Dickson, Joe Weatherley, Rehan Ahmed, Mitchell Owen, Scott Currie, Jordan Thompson, Ethan Brookes, Usman Tariq, Ben Dwarshuis, Saqib Mahmood, Chris Wood, Tom Helm.
Welsh Fire: Phil Salt captains the side and is the leading run scorer in Hundred history. The squad is loaded with batting, including Joe Root, Jordan Cox, Matthew Short and Rachin Ravindra, plus real bowling quality in Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes and Lockie Ferguson. Full squad: Phil Salt (c, wk), Jordan Cox (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (wk), Joe Root, Matthew Short, Asa Tribe, Ben Kellaway, Rachin Ravindra, Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes, Lockie Ferguson, Sam Cook, Jafer Chohan, Tom Aspinwall, Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington.
Pitch Report
Edgbaston has been fairly even between bat and ball, leaning slightly toward the chasing side. Across 20 matches here, the team bowling first has won 55 percent of the time against 45 percent for the team batting first. The average first innings score is 146 and second innings 127, and this ground has produced the second highest total in Hundred history, Phoenix’s own 214/4 earlier this season. Pace bowlers have dominated recently, taking 62 percent of the wickets across the last 10 matches, so the quicks on both sides should be busy.
Weather Report
Saturday, 1 August in Birmingham looks warm and dry. Expect a high near 73°F (23°C) and a low around 50°F (10°C), with only around a 10 percent chance of rain. Good conditions for a full game with little interruption risk.
Probable Playing XIs
Birmingham Phoenix (Probable): Joe Clarke (wk), Will Smeed, Joe Weatherley, Donovan Ferreira (c), Mitchell Owen, Laurie Evans, Rehan Ahmed, Scott Currie, Chris Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Usman Tariq.
Welsh Fire (Probable): Phil Salt (c, wk), Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Matthew Short, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Marco Jansen, Chris Woakes, Ben Kellaway, Lockie Ferguson, Sam Cook.
These are the likely lineups. Both are confirmed at the toss.
Key Player Battles
Phil Salt vs Chris Wood: Salt is the tournament’s all time leading run scorer and loves getting after the new ball, and Wood, Phoenix’s most reliable wicket taker this season, will look to knock him over early.
Joe Clarke vs Marco Jansen: Clarke has been Phoenix’s most consistent batter, and Jansen’s height and left arm angle with the new ball make this a proper test at the top of the innings.
Rehan Ahmed vs Joe Root: Rehan’s leg spin against Root’s classical batting is a fun contest, one of the tournament’s most exciting young bowlers against one of the finest players of spin in the world.
BP vs WF Fantasy Team: Small League
Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt (C), Jordan Cox, Joe Clarke (VC),
Batters: Joe Root, Will Smeed
All-rounders: Donovan Ferreira, Rachin Ravindra, Rehan Ahmed, Marco Jansen,
Bowlers: Chris Wood, Saqib Mahmood,
Salt gets the captaincy as the most explosive opener in the competition and the man most likely to face the most balls. Clarke takes the vice captaincy as Phoenix’s most in form batter and keeper. The rest of the side balances both top orders with the frontline bowlers who should get through their full quota on a ground that has favoured pace.
BP vs WF Fantasy Team: Grand League
Wicketkeepers: Joe Clarke, Phil Salt,
Batters: Joe Root (C)
All-rounders: Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Owen, Marco Jansen, Rehan Ahmed (VC), Ben Kellaway,
Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Usman Tariq, Scott Currie,
For a grand league differential play, Root gets the captaincy as a batter who can anchor and score big without the ownership Salt will draw. Rehan Ahmed takes the vice captaincy as a wicket taking leg spinner in good form. Scott Currie and Ben Kellaway are the differential picks, both lower owned all rounders who could pay off if either bowling attack finds early movement.
Match Prediction
Welsh Fire have the stronger looking batting lineup on paper and better recent results, and they’ll fancy their chances against a Phoenix side that has struggled for consistency and lost its named captain and a key overseas bowler to injury. Birmingham Phoenix have the home crowd and the memory of that 214 against Trent Rockets to lean on, so they can’t be counted out at Edgbaston. Welsh Fire get the nod on balance, but a Phoenix batting explosion could easily flip it.
FAQs
Q. Who will win the BP vs WF 15th match today?
A. Welsh Fire go in as slight favourites thanks to better recent form and a deeper batting lineup, though Birmingham Phoenix have home advantage and the batting power to spring a result.
Q. What is the BP vs WF Fantasy prediction for the 15th match?
A. Phil Salt and Joe Clarke are the top captaincy picks given their form, with Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed standing out as strong differential options.
Q. What is the pitch report for Edgbaston, Birmingham?
A. Edgbaston has been fairly even, leaning slightly toward chasing, with the team bowling first winning around 55 percent of matches. It has produced some big totals this season, and pace bowlers have taken most of the wickets recently.
Q. Is Jacob Bethell playing for Birmingham Phoenix?
A. No. Jacob Bethell, who was named Phoenix captain, has been ruled out of the entire tournament with a knee injury. Donovan Ferreira is captaining the side in his place.
Q. What is the probable Playing XI for BP vs WF?
A. Birmingham Phoenix are expected to be led by Donovan Ferreira with Joe Clarke keeping wicket, while Welsh Fire should field Phil Salt alongside Joe Root and Jordan Cox. Final XIs are confirmed at the toss.
Q. Who are the captains for BP vs WF, and are there any leadership changes?
A. Donovan Ferreira captains Birmingham Phoenix, having taken over from the injured Jacob Bethell. Phil Salt captains Welsh Fire.
Q. Is there a rain threat for the BP vs WF match?
A. Barely any. The forecast for 1 August in Birmingham shows only around a 10 percent chance of rain, so the match should go ahead without interruption.