Welsh Fire set for action-packed second year of The Hundred
Welsh Fire men’s and women’s teams are back in action this summer as cricket’s newest competition returns to thrill crowds with more fast-paced cricket and action-packed entertainment for all ages.
Welsh Fire men’s team take on reigning champions Southern Brave in the competition’s curtain-raiser at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday August 3rd at 7pm. They then host Oval Invincibles in their first game at Sophie Gardens on Sunday August 7th.
Due to the inclusion of women’s cricket in the Commonwealth Games programme, The Hundred women’s competition will start a few days after the men’s this year. However, once the women’s competition starts on 11 August the fixtures will revert to the popular double-header format, with both men’s and women’s teams playing on the same day – with tickets entitling fans to watch both games.
Welsh Fire’s women will first be in action in the double header will be at home against Birmingham Phoenix on Saturday 13 August.
Stadiums were packed out last year as crowds enjoyed world-class cricket alongside entertainment from top music acts including Jax Jones and Becky Hill as well as. The Hundred’s ongoing partnership with BBC Music Introducing guarantees another year of top tier live music and performances throughout the competition.
The Hundred will begin this year with defending men’s champions Southern Brave taking on Welsh Fire at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday August 3rd. Inaugural women’s winners Oval Invincibles will host Northern Superchargers in the first men’s and women’s double header on Thursday August 11th. Group stages will end on Wednesday August 31st before the second and third placed teams face each other at the Ageas Bowl in The Hundred Eliminator on Friday September 2nd. The winners will face the top ranked team in The Hundred Final on Saturday September 3rd at Lord’s.
Jake Ball, Welsh Fire’s 2021 fast bowler, said: “The Hundred was fantastic last year, it was a truly special thing to be a part of. The cricket, the music, the fireworks – it was a great atmosphere! Bring on August 3rd against the reigning champions at the Ageas Bowl!”
Tickets will remain unbelievable value for families with prices set at £5 for under 16s and free for children aged five and under. There will be even more activities around the ground to entertain families alongside the world class cricket on the pitch. And ticket buyers will be able to choose their own seats this year with family-friendly zones in every venue.
Fans will be able to get their hands on tickets in two priority windows, firstly for 2021 tickets holders, attendees and members in late February and a second window on March 31st for anyone who has signed up via thehundred.com. Tickets will then go on general sale on April 20th.
Games will once again be broadcast live on Sky Sports and BBC throughout the competition after more than 16m tuned in to watch The Hundred on TV alone in 2021.
Tickets will go on general sale on Wednesday April 20th on thehundred.com. For 2021 tickets holders, attendees and members, tickets will be available in late February. A second window will open on Thursday March 31st for anyone who has signed up at thehundred.com for priority ticket access to this year’s event.
Sanjay Patel, Managing Director for The Hundred said, “The Hundred helped grow the game last year. With more than 500,000 tickets sold and issued and 16 million watching on TV – with half of them being new to cricket – we saw a new audience enjoying the game for the first time. We can’t wait to build on that this year, bringing world class cricket and an incredible family day out to fans across England and Wales.”
The first year of The Hundred saw 510,000 tickets sold and issued as the competition welcomed new and existing fans. Grounds across the country posted sell-outs and 19% of all tickets sold were for under 16s. 55% of ticket buyers for The Hundred hadn’t bought a ticket for cricket in this country before while attendances across the competition were the highest for a women’s cricket event globally ever.
Welsh Fire fixtures 2022
Wednesday August 3rd: Southern Brave v Welsh Fire, Ageas Bowl (men’s) 7pm
Sunday August 7th: Welsh Fire v Oval Invincibles, Sophia Gardens (men’s) 2pm
Saturday August 13th: Welsh Fire v Birmingham Phoenix, Sophia Gardens, women 2:30pm, men 6pm
Tuesday August 16th: Manchester Originals v Welsh Fire, Emirates Old Trafford, women 3pm, men 6:30pm
Monday August 22nd: Welsh Fire v Southern Brave, Sophia Gardens, women 3pm, men 6:30pm
Wednesday August 24th: London Spirit v Welsh Fire, Lord’s, women 3pm, men 6:30pm
Friday August 26th: Welsh Fire v Northern Superchargers, Sophia Gardens, women 3:30pm, men 7pm
Monday August 29th: Trent Rockets v Welsh Fire, Trent Bridge, women 3:30pm, men 7pm
Friday September 2nd: Hundred Eliminator, Ageas Bowl, women 3pm, men 6:30pm
Saturday September 3rd: Hundred Final, Lord’s, women 3pm, men 6:30pm
To find out more and sign up for priority access to tickets (from March 31st 2022) visit thehundred.com
