Welsh Fire Women, based in Cardiff and playing their home games at Sophia Gardens, represent the historic counties of Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, and Somerset in The Hundred. The team is jointly run by the three counties’ cricket clubs. Though they have yet to win a title in The Hundred women’s competition, they have been competitive, finishing 3rd in 2023 and 2nd in 2024, progressing to the knockout stages and finals frequently.
The squad boasts international talent such as West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews, whose outstanding all-round performances in 2024 helped propel Welsh Fire to the final. England’s Sophia Dunkley has also been a key player, providing crucial innings and becoming a leading run-scorer for the team.
The captaincy has featured Tammy Beaumont, who brings experience and composure to the side. Welsh Fire emphasizes inspiring the next generation of female cricketers, supported by a coaching staff keen on developing young talent alongside seasoned internationals. Their playing style combines strong batting performances with effective bowling, particularly through Matthews’ off-spin and pace bowlers like Jess Jonassen.
Overall, Welsh Fire Women are a side with growing strength and ambition in The Hundred, blending international experience with a focus on future development, and they have recently been close contenders for the title.
Players to watch out:
Tammy Beaumont
Tammy Beaumont, right-handed opening batter and Welsh Fire captain, made history in 2023 by scoring the first women’s century in The Hundred with 118 runs off 61 balls, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history. Known for her aggressive stroke play and consistency, she was the second highest run-scorer in 2023 with 290 runs from 8 matches at an average of 41.43 and a strike rate of 153.44. Over her Hundred career, she has scored 731 runs at an average of 29.24, including 2 half-centuries and a century. Under her leadership, Welsh Fire improved significantly, reaching the Eliminator in 2023 and finishing as runners-up in 2024, making her a key batter and influential captain in the competition.
Sophia Dunkley
Sophia Dunkley is an exciting English all-rounder in The Hundred, known for her right-handed aggressive batting and right-arm leg-spin bowling. Since joining The Hundred, she has played 32 matches, scoring 851 runs at an average of around 32.7 and a strike rate of 131.32, with the highest of 69*. As a bowler, she has taken 5 wickets with economical spells, contributing as a useful part-time leg-spinner. Dunkley adds power hitting, often clearing boundaries, and her dynamic all-round skills make her an important player for Southern Brave in high-pressure situations. She is also known for development at the international level with England, blending attacking batting and leg-spin bowling effectively in franchise cricket.
Hayley Matthews
Hayley Matthews is a key all-rounder for Welsh Fire in The Hundred. She has been impactful with both bat and ball, known for her off-spin bowling and aggressive batting. In the 2024 season, Matthews delivered standout performances such as taking 4 wickets for 14 runs against Southern Brave and also scoring an unbeaten 35 runs in the same match to guide Welsh Fire to a comfortable win and secure a top three spot. Over her Hundred career so far, she has scored 662 runs in 25 innings with a highest score of unbeaten 78 and an average of 30.09 including 4 half-centuries. Matthews combines tight, wicket-taking spin bowling with important lower-middle order batting performances, making her a vital player for Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Sarah Bryce
Sarah Bryce is a right-handed wicket-keeper batter who started in The Hundred with Oval Invincibles in 2021 and joined Welsh Fire in 2022. Although her batting was modest initially, Bryce improved significantly at Welsh Fire, becoming one of the top run-scorers in 2022 behind Tammy Beaumont and Hayley Matthews. She has scored 385 runs in 22 innings with a top score of 51* and an average of 29.61, striking at 108.75. Known for her reliable keeping, powerful cut shot, and consistent batting, Bryce is a key contributor for her team in The Hundred.
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