| Matches Played | 09 |
| SOB Won | 02 |
| WEF Won | 06 |
| Tied / No Results | 01 |
Pitch Report
With the 2025 Hundred marking the opening of The Rose Bowl in Southampton, we have witnessed three matches for the men’s tournament. The average first-innings total in those matches stands at 126. All three matches ended in the favour of the chasing teams. Given that his match does not carry any weight, both teams tend to play without any shackles of pressure.
Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire – Match Analysis
Southern Brave’s Strengths
Home advantage at The Rose Bowl provides familiar pitch conditions, a supportive crowd atmosphere, and psychological comfort against bottom-placed opponents seeking season redemption. Superior head-to-head record with 6-2 dominance over Welsh Fire offers tactical confidence and historical precedent for success in this final encounter. Three tournament victories demonstrate competitive capability and squad depth, maintaining performance standards despite elimination disappointment affecting overall campaign momentum.
Southern Brave’s Weaknesses
Recent poor form with only one victory from five matches exposes confidence issues, tactical problems, and momentum concerns heading into the season finale. Tournament elimination removes competitive urgency and qualification pressure, potentially causing mental disengagement and reduced commitment levels without meaningful stakes driving performance intensity. Disappointing campaign conclusion could create negative mindset and performance anxiety, with players struggling to maintain professional standards in meaningless fixtures.
Welsh Fire’s Strengths
Nothing-to-lose mentality after tournament elimination unleashes fearless cricket and experimental approaches, with players freed from pressure and qualification anxiety affecting decision-making processes. Opportunity to avoid a bottom-table finish provides genuine motivation and competitive drive, creating meaningful stakes despite overall tournament elimination affecting campaign objectives. Historical head-to-head advantage offers psychological confidence and a tactical blueprint, with 6-2 record dominance providing a strategic framework for success against higher-ranked opponents.
Welsh Fire’s Weaknesses
Bottom-table position with only two victories reflects fundamental performance issues, tactical shortcomings, and squad limitations that have plagued the entire tournament campaign consistently. Away fixture disadvantage removes familiar conditions and home comfort, facing a hostile Southampton environment where opponents hold every practical and psychological advantage throughout the encounter. Tournament disappointment could cause squad disunity and individual apathy, with eliminated players potentially lacking genuine commitment without qualification stakes providing ultimate competitive motivation.
Predicted Playing 11s
Southern Brave (SOB)
Leus du Plooy, James Vince (C), Jason Roy, Laurie Evans (WK), James Coles, Michael Bracewell, Hilton Cartwright, Jordan Thompson, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills.
Welsh Fire (WEF)
Stephen Eskinazi, Steven Smith, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Tom Abell (C), Ben Kellaway, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Chris Green, Saif Zaib, David Payne, Josh Hull, Riley Meredith.
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