- James Vince has 185 runs in four matches
- Southern Brave have won three of their opening four games
- Recommended bet: James Vince Southern Brave top run scorer

Southern Brave are looking like the team to beat in the early stages of the men’s Hundred and victory over the Welsh Fire would be their fourth victory from their opening five matches.

While many are struggling for consistency, the Brave have put their best foot forward with their only defeat coming against the Northern Superchargers.

Last time out, captain James Vince inspired Brave to a 32-run win over Birmingham Phoenix, having hit an unbeaten 90 off only 47 balls.

Welsh Fire were also victorious in their last match, having recorded a four-run win over Trent Rockets to take their record to two wins from their opening four fixtures.

Jonny Bairstow was the star for the Fire against the Rockets as the England international compiled 55 runs from 45 balls.

Team news

Brave are likely to name an unchanged side from Saturday’s dominant success over Birmingham Phoenix, with Alex Davies and Vince opening the batting.

Chris Jordan, Craig Overton, Akeal Hosein, Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills help form a formidable bowling attack.

The Welsh Fire, on the back of a win themselves, may also opt to keep things pretty similar with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Bairstow opening the batting. 

Their bowling line-up consists of David Willey, David Payne, Matt Henry, Mason Crane and Haris Rauf.

The stats

Southern Brave have won their last five meetings with the Welsh Fire, which includes an emphatic nine-wicket success in their latest encounter.

The Brave have won three of their opening four matches in this season’s competition, with Vince being the star of the show with 185 runs across his four innings.

Brave’s Jordan is the leading-wicket taker in the competition with eight wickets.

Bairstow is the Fire’s leading runsccorer with 90 runs in four matches while Haris Rauf is their leading wicket-taker with five.

Prediction

The Southern Brave are a difficult team to oppose given their dominant record over the Welsh Fire and on the back of their strong start to the competition.

But they are priced accordingly so it could be worth looking for some value in the top runscorer market and Vince could again lead the way after his match-winning display against Birmingham Phoenix.

Vince's unbeaten knock of 90 came from only 47 balls and featured six fours and six maximums, taking his total to the tournament to 185 runs off 117 balls. 

That is an average of 46.25 per innings and, if Fire are unable to see him off early, then he could run riot given he is in such fine fettle.

When these two teams met two years ago, Vince finished on 71 not out as Brave recorded a nine-wicket success and he can lead them to another victory over the Fire.

Back James Vince top run scorer at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet.