A Super week of cricket in Nelson delivered a superb result for our CENTRAL STAGS who now sit top of the men's Dream11 Super Smash.

The Stags have two wins from three rounds - only missing out on a perfect 3/3 by a whisker - and captain TOM BRUCE is the competition's leading run-scorer, overtaking Auckland's Martin Guptill after his game-changing performance of 64 not out off 31 balls at Saxton Oval in yesterday's high class thumping of Northern Brave.

The Stags won by 64 runs with a near-complete all-round performance and have marked themselves out as a team that can go after any target in front of them, after three good thrillers with plenty of runs on the board.

175 games of combined experience:

DANE CLEAVER and TOM BRUCE

PHOTOSPORT

It was also Bruce's third Dream11 'Gamechanger' award in the space of four games, emphasising his calm ability to set the tone for his team.

The Stags' win reversed to Monday's fortunes at Saxton with the CENTRAL HINDS still searching for a complete performance with the bat, despite exciting showings with the ball and HOLLIE ARMITAGE anchoring the Hinds' innings on two occasions., including carrying her bat in Alexandra.

 

PHOTOSPORT

 

The Hinds went down heavily to Northern Brave's strong women's team - featuring elite world T20 International Chamari Athapaththu, who was one of the stars of the show, alongside hard-hitting ex-Hinds captain Jess Watkin.

But there is plenty of time yet for the Hinds to smash their way back into form, as the two teams get ready for a rematch with defending champion Wellington Blaze and the Wellington Firebirds at the Cello Basin Reserve this Thursday afternoon.

Among the many highlights of the Stags' victory over Northern at Saxton was a crowd catch to remember, with DANE CLEAVER's younger brother and Manawatū rep BRYNN CLEAVER doing the catching honours as he sent a six sailing into the crowd.

It was a special game for the Stags keeper-batsman who chalked up the Central men's T20 appearances record, with his family travelling to Nelson to help celebrate the milestone.

JACK BOYLE meanwhile chalked up his maiden T20 wicket after a side niggle kept Bruce from bowling himself, supplementing strong performances from ANGUS SCHAW - who got his T20 career-bests with both bat and ball against the Firebirds on Saturday, and JAYDEN LENNOX whose 3/14 squeezed the life out of Northern - and he also took four field catches in the innings (including a caught and bowled; as well a brilliant diving catch off JOEY FIELD to his wrong hand - to equal WILLEM LUDICK's record for most catches in a Stags T20 innings.

With the momentum building, Thursday's capital clash shapes as a must-watch prelude to Central's next home doubleheader, coming up quick at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park on Sunday 12 January.

Tickets are available online and due to the traditional large crowd expected in Palmy, CD Cricket strongly recommends securing tickets now, before heading to the ground so you don't get stuck in the queues - or miss out entirely.

Article added: Tuesday 7 January 2025