Birmingham Bears Women vs Durham Women, WVT20B, Today Match Prediction

WRW-W vs DUR-W Match Prediction & Analysis

Birmingham Bears Women square off against Durham Women in match 4 of the Women's Vitality Blast T20 on Saturday, 31st May. The match is slated to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham and the scheduled start time is 4:30 PM IST. 

Birmingham Bears started their season with an emphatic, nail-biting tie against The Blaze Women. On the other hand, Durham Women will play their first match of the season, and they are coming off a 72-run loss to Surrey Women in the quarterfinal round of the recently concluded Women's T20 County Cup.

Current Standings: The Bears gained two points from their first match of the season and currently stand in 3rd place, while Durham are yet to open their this season.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

WRW-W

L

WRW-W

249/10 in 48.5 5.1

WODC

Somerset Women beat Warwickshire Women by 48 runs

07 May 2025

SOM-W

297/6 in 50.0 5.94

DUR-W

L L

SUR-W

348/6 in 50.0 6.96

WODC

Surrey Women beat Durham Women by 104 runs

30 Apr 2025

DUR-W

244/10 in 45.1 5.4

DUR-W

200/10 in 47.2 4.23

WODC

The Blaze Women beat Durham Women by 5 wickets

27 Apr 2025

TBLZ-W

201/5 in 37.2 5.38

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Birmingham Bears Women Preview

The Birmingham Bears, much like how they began their One-Day Cup season, also commenced their T20 Blast season with a breathtaking tie against The Blaze Women, holding their nerve on the final ball of the match. The Bears won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a decent total of 160/8. 

They had a shaky start, losing two quick wickets and finding themselves at 2/29. However, Issy Wong (16 runs) and Sterre Kalis (10 runs) successfully navigated The Blaze's new ball attack. Katie George (37 runs off 30 balls) and Charis Pavley (46 runs off 34 balls) then forged a game-changing 75-run partnership for the 5th wicket, propelling the Bears past the 150-run mark.

Defending the total, the Bears struck early, dismissing Marie Kelly for 11 runs, with Amu Surenkumar providing the breakthrough. However, The Blaze Women then added 100 runs for the 2nd wicket, seemingly taking the game away from the Bears.  

Nevertheless, a couple of crucial wickets at the end of the run-chase, coupled with Issy Wong bowling the final over with nine runs to defend, brought the Bears back into contention. Wong dismissed Sarah Bryce on the fifth ball, and with only two runs needed off the last ball, The Blaze Women managed to sneak a single, resulting in a tie.

The Bears' top order needs significant improvement, as they have been subpar in their last couple of matches. Their middle-order batters, however, are in top form. Additionally, their spinners haven't quite delivered as expected; if they can contain runs in the middle overs, the Bears possess a solid bowling lineup.

Birmingham Bears Women Predicted Playing XI:

Davina Perrin, Abigail Freeborn (wk), Issy Wong, Sterre Kalis, Katie George, Charis Pavely, Laura Harris, Amu Surenkumar, Millie Taylor, Georgia Davis (C), Hannah Baker

Birmingham Bears Women Actual Playing XI:

Amu Surenkumar, Davina Perrin, Abigail Freeborn, Charis Pavely, Georgia Davis, Hannah Baker, Issy Wong, Katie George, Millie Taylor, Sterre Kalis, Laura May Harris

Durham Women Preview

Durham Women had a disappointing County Cup outing. After winning their first match of the competition in a Super Over against Somerset Women, they lost the quarterfinal round against Surrey Women by 72 runs and were subsequently knocked out.

Durham, led by Hollie Armitage, boasts a wealth of experience. Armitage, who has been in good domestic form, has scored 2610 runs and picked up 34 wickets in 133 WT20 matches, making her a player to watch out for with the bat in the top order. Alongside her is Kiwi International Suzie Bates, who has scored 3683 runs in 133 T20I's. This forms a power-packed top order for Durham Women, which also includes wicket-keeper batter Bess Heath, known for her ability to clear the ropes.

In the middle order, all-rounders Mady Villiers, Phoebe Turner, Emma Marlow, and Katherine Fraser are all proficient players of spin and can score runs at a hefty strike rate. Villiers, in particular, has been a consistent scorer, playing impactful cameos, and is adept at containing runs in the middle overs with her bowling.

In the bowling department, Phoebe Turner, with her pace and bounce, could reap rewards on a good fast track at Birmingham. She will also have the additional responsibility of providing breakthroughs in the absence of Lauren Filer. Katie Levick (161 wickets in 130 matches) will have a huge role to play in containing runs during the middle overs and securing timely breakthroughs.

Durham Women Predicted Playing XI:

Suzie Bates, Bess Heath (wk), Hollie Armitage (C), Emily Windsor, Maddy Villiers, Emma Marlow, Abigail Glen, Phoebe Turner, Katherine Fraser, Sophia Turner, Katie Levick

Durham Women Actual Playing XI:

Hollie Armitage, Suzie Bates, Katherine Fraser, Mady Villiers, Trudy Johnson, Bess Heath, Mia Rogers, Abigail Glen, Katie Levick, Lauren Filer, Grace Thompson

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday, 31st May is expected to be around 13°C and it is mostly going to be a cloudy day and no rain. The wind blowing across the ground at 8 km/hr and a 94% humidity. 

WRW-W vs DUR-W Pitch Report

The pitch at Edgbaston, Birmingham offers a balanced track that favours both the batters and bowlers. Fast bowlers can extract swing early in the innings and spinners could be equally effective if they hold onto their accurate line & lengths. The average 1st innings score in the last eight Women's T20 matches played at Edgbaston is 135. 

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first have won five of the last eight Women's T20 matches played at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Both teams possess lethal bowling lineups and will likely aim to post a good score and then defend the total. We predict the team that wins the toss will opt to bat first.