• The Fire lost by eight wickets to the Superchargers on Thursday

• The Spirit were skittled for just 80 against Oval Invincibles on Tuesday

• Recommended bet: Jonny Bairstow Over 23.5 Runs

Welsh Fire and London Spirit meet in Cardiff hoping to get points on the board after making losing starts to this year's Hundred.

The Lord's franchise were blown away by champions Oval Invincibles, bowled out for just 80 on their home pitch, while at least the Fire put up a decent fight at Headingley against the Northern Superchargers.

The latest Welsh Fire vs London Spirit odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Chris Woakes will miss the entire campaign with the shoulder injury he sustained playing for England and New Zealand seamer Matt Henry is his replacement but will not arrive in Cardiff until later next week.

England keeper Jamie Smith is expected to be available for the Spirit though Ollie Pope is believed to be sitting out one more game before turning out.

The stats

The average first-innings score at Sophia Gardens in The Hundred last summer was 106.

The franchises have won two each of the last five meetings between the sides with one washout.

London Spirit lost all four away games in 2024. Welsh Fire lost all three completed games at home.

The latest Welsh Fire vs London Spirit odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

The Spirit's famed batting line-up was blown away by the Invincibles at Lord's on Tuesday, making Kane Williamson's men hard to fancy when they travel across the Severn.

Keaton Jennings, David Warner and Williamson himself all flopped as the London franchise were dismissed for a ropey 80.

As bad as that, and just as revealing, was that their bowling attack looked weak as well. Liam Dawson was the only member of the Spirit bowling quintet who had an economy rate under eight.

To that end, not only should the Welsh Fire fancy their chances against a London side who could not buy a win on the road last season.

But the Cardiff franchise's openers, Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith, have to believe they can fill their boots.

Australian superstar Smith and Bairstow piled up 62 off 37 balls, the former Yorkshire and England batter going on to make a chanceless 42 with seven boundaries.

YJB has now scored 380 runs in The Hundred at an average of over 29 and looks well worth chancing to get over 23.5 runs for the second successive game.

Back Jonny Bairstow Over 23.5 Runs at Evens with LiveScore Bet