Southern Brave Women are set to take on Birmingham Phoenix Women in Match No. 7 of the Women’s Hundred at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Both sides come into this fixture with confidence, having notched up victories in their opening games—Brave powered by the batting of Laura Wolvaardt and the pace bowling of Lauren Bell, while Phoenix showcased Emma Lamb’s dynamic strokeplay and strong leadership from Ellyse Perry.
The pitch at The Rose Bowl typically offers a balance between bat and ball, providing consistent bounce early in the contest but often slowing down as the match progresses. While batters can score freely during the initial overs, bowlers—especially spinners and those adept at variations—tend to gain the upper hand later, making adaptability crucial for both teams. Tactical decisions at the toss are significant, with many captains opting to bat first to exploit the fresher pitch and accrue a defendable total.
This clash holds added intrigue because both teams are undefeated, and their lineups feature several international stars. The contest promises explosive batting, tight spells from disciplined bowlers, and strategic battles—ingredients for a memorable encounter in the early stages of the tournament.
Fantasy Picks :
Wicket-Keeper
Amy Jones (BP-W)
Amy Jones is an English cricketer known for her skills as a wicketkeeper and right-handed batter. Born on June 13, 1993, in Solihull, West Midlands, she has played for teams including The Blaze and Birmingham Phoenix and has been a key player for England since her international debut in 2013. In The Hundred, Amy Jones has played 31 matches, scoring 571 runs in 30 innings, with a highest score of 51 and a strike rate of 115.42. Known for her explosive batting at the top of the order, she combines aggressive stroke play with effective wicketkeeping to contribute significantly to her teams
Batters
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (SB-W)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge is an English cricketer known as a powerful right-handed batter and occasional right-arm off-break bowler. She made her England debut in 2010 and is recognized as an all-rounder who combines aggressive batting with useful off-spin bowling. In The Hundred women’s competition, Danni Wyatt-Hodge has featured as a key player for Southern Brave. She has scored 939 runs in 35 matches with a highest score of unbeaten 69 with a strike rate of 133.57, including 8 half-centuries. She is a key batter for the Southern Brave, going ahead in the tournament
Laura Wolvaardt (SB-W)
Laura Wolvaardt is a South African cricketer, born on April 26, 1999, who plays as a right-handed opening batter. She is known for her stylish and elegant batting and has been a prominent international player since her debut in 2016, representing South Africa and various domestic teams worldwide. In The Hundred women’s competition, Laura Wolvaardt has appeared with Northern Superchargers and later Manchester Originals and Southern Brave. She has scored 871 runs in 27 innings with a highest score of unbeaten 90, including 4 half-centuries. She is one of the key batters for Southern Brave going forward
Emma Lamb (BP-W)
Emma Lamb is an English cricketer born on December 16, 1997, who plays as a right-handed batting all-rounder and bowls off spin. She has represented Lancashire Women and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and made her international debut for England in September 2021. Known for her ability to be both classical and destructive, Lamb has scored runs consistently while also contributing with the ball. She has scored 438 runs in 25 innings with the bat and with a strike rate of 57, including 2 half-centuries. She will be a key prospect for the Birmingham side
All-Rounders
Ellyse Perry (BP-W)
Ellyse Perry is an Australian cricketer and former soccer player, acclaimed as one of the greatest female cricketers of all time. Born on November 3, 1990, she is a genuine all-rounder known for her mastery in both batting and fast bowling, with remarkable achievements including multiple world championships and individual awards in international and domestic cricket. She is the skipper of the Birmingham Phoenix and has scored 351 runs in 15 innings with a highest score of 66, including 3 half-centuries. She has also picked up 9 wickets with the ball with best bowling figures of 3 for 21 and is one of the key players for the Phoenix side
Sophie Devine (SB-W)
Sophie Devine is a New Zealand cricketer and one of the leading all-rounders in the game, known for her powerful right-handed batting and right-arm medium-fast bowling. She made her international debut as a teenager and has since become captain of the New Zealand women’s team, recognized especially for her destructive batting style and leadership. In the Women’s Hundred competition, Sophie Devine has played as a key all-rounder, delivering strong performances with both bat and ball. She has scored 411 runs in 20 innings with a highest score of 53. She has also been a handy bowler whenever given the opportunity with the ball and is a key and experienced player for the side
Georgia Adams (SB-W)
Georgia Adams is an English cricketer and all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin. She is known as a powerful opening batter with a strong strike rate around 113-114 in The Hundred. Adams is the captain of the Southern Brave and has been a key player for their side. She has scored 444 runs in 29 innings with a highest score of unbeaten 50 and an average of 17.76. She has not only scored with the bat but has also picked 31 wickets with the ball with best figures of 4 for 11 with an economy rate of 6.87 proving her contribution in both the departments of the game. Overall, she is valued for her all-round skills, leadership, and ability to perform under pressure in The Hundred
Mady Villiers (SB-W)
Mady Villiers is an English cricketer, born on August 26, 1998, who plays as a right-arm off-break bowler and an all-rounder. She is known for her bowling skills and has represented England internationally as well as various domestic teams including Essex, Sunrisers, Southern Braves, and Oval Invincibles in The Hundred. In The Hundred women’s competition, Mady Villiers has been a key all-round player. She played for Oval Invincibles, contributing with both bat and ball. In the 2021 season, Villiers scored 51 runs and took 6 wickets, helping Oval Invincibles win the tournament. She has picked up 22 wickets in her Hundred career with best bowling figures of 4 for 12 and has also contributed with the bat scoring 129 runs. She is a key all-rounder for the Southern Brave in the tournament ahead.
Bowlers
Emily Arlott (BP -W)
Emily “Em” Arlott is an English cricketer born on February 23, 1998, known primarily as a right-arm medium-fast bowler and a capable right-handed batter. She has progressed through Worcestershire age groups and county cricket and now plays professionally for Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix. In The Hundred women’s competition, Em Arlott has been a vital bowler for Birmingham Phoenix. She has picked up 35 wickets in the competition so far with best bowling figures of 3 for 15. Though her primary role is bowling, she has also contributed with the bat scoring 173 in 20 innings striking at 116.89. Arlott is a key bowler and will lead the bowling attack for the Phoenix unit
Hannah Baker (BP-W)
Hannah Baker is an English cricketer born on February 3, 2004. She is a right-arm leg-spin bowler and a right-handed batter who has emerged as a promising talent in English women’s cricket, playing for Warwickshire, Central Sparks, and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. She made her international debut for England in 2024 and was a standout performer in the Under-19 World Cup in 2023. In The Hundred women’s competition, Hannah Baker has played 22 matches, taking 15 wickets with a bowling average of 25.86, an economy rate of 7.27, and a strike rate of 21.3. She is going to be one of the key bowlers for the Birmingham unit in this season of the competition
Lauren Bell (SB-W)
Lauren Bell is a tall right-arm medium-fast bowler for Southern Brave in The Hundred, known for generating extra bounce and effective swing with the new ball. She has played multiple seasons with Southern Brave since 2021, contributing significantly with disciplined bowling and consistent wicket-taking ability. In The Hundred, Bell has taken around 44 wickets in 33 innings for Southern Brave with best bowling figures of 4 for 10 with an economy rate of 7.26. Her ability to strike early and maintain a good economy rate makes her a key new-ball bowler for the side. Bell combines her club performances with international experience for England from 2022, and she is considered a rising talent and crucial bowler in The Hundred setup
Pitch Report:
The pitch at the Utilita Bowl (also known as the Rose Bowl) in Southampton, England, is generally regarded as batting-friendly, characterized by a flat and hard surface that allows the ball to come nicely onto the bat. This makes it an ideal track for batsmen to play big shots and score freely. The average scores at this ground typically range between 160-200 runs in limited overs matches, suggesting it favors batting
This Fantasy XI is formed with a sharp focus on form, career stats, and the unique challenge posed by Utilita Bowl, Southampton in England. Make sure to lock in your teams before 11 PM and stay tuned for a blockbuster encounter between two of women’s cricket’s exciting clubs locking horns against each other.
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