• Northern Superchargers won three of four home matches last season

• Welsh Fire have lost four of the seven most economical bowlers from last year’s The Hundred

• Recommended Bet: Northern Superchargers to win 

Northern Superchargers will be eager to build on last season’s progress when they start this year’s Hundred campaign with a home match against a rebuilt Welsh Fire.

Coached by Andrew Flintoff and led by Harry Brook, the Headingley-based franchise narrowly missed out on a place in the Eliminator last season after securing their best-ever finish of fourth.

Welsh Fire won only two matches last summer to finish sixth but have renewed hopes for success after bringing Steve Smith in for his first tilt at the 100-ball format.

Smith joins fellow Australians Chris Green and Riley Meredith in the Fire’s ranks while Yorkshire star Jonny Bairstow will be keen to make an impact for them at his county home.

The latest Northern Superchargers vs Welsh Fire odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team News

Brook captains a largely settled Superchargers squad featuring England one-day bowlers Adil Rashid, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse, but Ben Stokes chose to miss this year’s tournament to manage his fitness.

David Miller became the team’s first Direct Signing when he joined on Deadline Day in February and the South African star will add plenty of finishing power down the order.

But there have been some late changes to the squad with Pakistan duo Mohammed Amir and Imad Wasim drafted in as late replacements for Ben Dwarshuis and Mitchell Santner, who will miss the entire campaign and two matches respectively.

Welsh Fire, meanwhile, have overhauled both their squad and overseas roster. Smith and Bairstow give the Cardiff-based outfit a world-class core at the crease, alongside attacking batters Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Paul Walter.

Fast bowler Meredith and all-rounder Green join the ranks, while David Payne returns for a fifth season to provide pace experience under head coach Mike Hussey.

But Haris Rauf, their leading wicket-taker from last season, was not picked up by any team in this year’s draft while David Willey, who bowled the most overs for Fire in 2024, has been signed by Trent Rockets.

The stats

Welsh Fire hold the head-to-head edge, winning two out of the three completed games against the Superchargers.

Last year’s rain-affected fixture in Cardiff was abandoned after the Superchargers posted just 26 for 5 off 25 balls.

Superchargers averaged 143 runs per 100 balls in last season’s tournament while Fire averaged 128 runs per 100 balls.

Brook has scored 675 runs in 24 innings in The Hundred.

Rashid has taken 38 wickets at an average of 18.34 and an economy rate of 7.44 in four seasons with the Superchargers.

The latest Northern Superchargers vs Welsh Fire odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Northern Superchargers look primed to kick off their 2025 campaign with a statement win on home turf.

The continuity of Brook’s leadership and a settled side provides stability, while Potts’ form with the ball is another big plus.

The Durham seamer arrives off the back of a good T20 Blast campaign in which he finished with a strike rate of 11.78 and an economy rate of 8.03.

His figures are comparable to Fire’s Meredith, who took 27 wickets in 13 matches for Somerset.

The Welsh team will miss the experience of injured England Test star Chris Woakes, while a bowling unit that performed well last season has been dismantled.

Four of the seven most economical bowlers in last year’s tournament played for Hussey’s side, but none of the quartet are still on the Fire’s books. 

With Headingley expected to offer pace and bounce, the Superchargers’ familiarity with conditions could make the difference.

Back Northern Superchargers to win at 13/20 with LiveScore Bet.