The Hundred 2025: Match 6 – Welsh Fire vs London Spirit Match Preview & Prediction
The sixth match of The Hundred Men’s 2025 will feature Welsh Fire (WEF) taking on London Spirit (LNS) at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Saturday, August 9. Both sides will be aiming to bounce back after losing their opening fixtures, as they sit at the bottom of the points table.
Recent Form & Match Recap
Welsh Fire started their season against Northern Superchargers. After being put to bat first, they managed 143/9, with Jonny Bairstow top-scoring with 42 off 23 balls. However, their bowlers couldn’t defend the total, as the Superchargers cruised home with eight wickets in hand. Riley Meredith picked up 2/33 and was the most effective bowler for WEF.
London Spirit faced Oval Invincibles in their opener. Winning the toss and batting first backfired as they were bundled out for just 80 runs in 94 balls. Only three batters reached double figures. The Invincibles chased the target in 69 balls, winning comfortably by six wickets. Liam Dawson’s spell of 2/20 was the lone positive for LNS.
Sophia Gardens Pitch Report
The pitch at Sophia Gardens has a reputation for assisting pace bowlers. Across 16 matches in this tournament at the venue, the average first innings score stands at 125. Pacers have claimed 69% of the wickets in the last 10 matches here. Teams chasing have won a massive 81% of the games, making the toss crucial.
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches: 4
- Welsh Fire Wins: 2
- London Spirit Wins: 2
- First Match: 18 August 2021
- Last Match: 1 August 2024
Predicted Playing XIs
Welsh Fire (WEF):
Jonny Bairstow (wk), Steven Smith, Luke Wells, Tom Abell (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Paul Walter, Saif Zaib, Chris Green, David Payne, Josh Hull, Riley Meredith
London Spirit (LNS):
David Warner, Keaton Jennings, Kane Williamson (c), Wayne Madsen, Ashton Turner, John Simpson (wk), Ryan Higgins, Liam Dawson, Luke Wood, Richard Gleeson, Daniel Worrall
Key Players to Watch
Best Batter – Jonny Bairstow:
Bairstow’s explosive batting could be pivotal for Welsh Fire. At Sophia Gardens, he has amassed 137 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 119.13 and is just 20 runs short of the 400-run milestone in The Hundred.
Best Bowler – David Payne:
David Payne has a proven track record at Sophia Gardens, claiming 12 wickets in 13 innings with an economy of 8.76. His ability to strike in crucial moments makes him a bowler to watch out for.
Match Prediction
Given the pitch conditions and recent form, the team bowling first could have a major advantage. Welsh Fire’s slightly stronger batting unit might tilt the balance in their favor, but London Spirit’s experienced top order and pace attack can’t be underestimated. Expect a close contest.
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