- Southern Brave are hot favourites to retain The Hundred Women's title but they should not take any of their seven rivals lightly
- Recommended bets:
- London Spirit to win the tournament at 10/1 with LiveScore Bet
- Birmingham Phoenix to win the tournament at 13/1 with LiveScore Bet

Oval Invincibles won the first two editions of The Hundred Women's competition before Southern Brave's triumph in 2023 and the Invincibles face Birmingham Phoenix in this season's opening fixture on Tuesday July 23.

Knight can lead Londoners to Lord's success

It was third time lucky for Southern Brave Women in The Hundred as, having lost to Oval Invincibles in the 2021 and 2022 finals, they thumped Northern Superchargers by 34 runs to lift the trophy last summer.

Prolific batters Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier and Smriti Mandhana give the Brave a great chance of retaining their crown but they look too short in the betting considering the depth of talent in the women's competition.

It may pay to look further down the market to find value and London Spirit, led by England skipper Heather Knight, are an eye-catching price.

The franchise has had limited success in the 100-ball tournament, finishing fourth, seventh and sixth in the first three seasons, but Knight is joined by Australia superstar Meg Lanning, who was the second-highest runscorer in this year's Women's Premier League in India.

Hard-hitting Aussie Grace Harris has been ruled out due to a calf injury but India all-rounder Deepti Sharma – player of the tournament at the WPL – is a superb replacement.

Spinners Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn excelled under Knight's captaincy in England's ODI and T20 series clean sweeps over New Zealand this summer.

Dean's batting is progressing well and Danielle Gibson, another exciting young England international, offers all-round balance to a Spirit side who should exceed expectations.

Back London Spirit to win the tournament at 10/1 with LiveScore Bet

Phoenix primed to put 2023 woes behind them

Birmingham Phoenix finished bottom of the table last season, losing all seven of their completed matches, but they should not be written off this term.

The Phoenix finished third and fourth in their first two campaigns and all but two of their defeats last season were competitive contests.

Three of their losses were by a three-run margin – including one against champions Southern Brave – while they went down by 10 runs to Oval Invincibles and almost managed to defend a target of 88 against Manchester Originals.

Brilliant Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry had to pull out of The Hundred last year due to injury but she will captain the Phoenix this summer.

Perry was the leading runscorer in the 2024 WPL, also picking up seven wickets in nine games for champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.

A six-time T20 World Cup champion with Australia, she brings a winning mentality to Edgbaston, where the supporting cast includes experienced New Zealand internationals Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, talented India youngster Richa Ghosh and in-form England wicketkeeper Amy Jones.  

Back Birmingham Phoenix to win the tournament at 13/1 with LiveScore Bet