STAGS, HINDS WIN BIG
The see-sawing lead of the men’s Dream11 Super Smash returned to the Central Stags in Napier after a head-turning victory against a Canterbury Kings line-up stacked with BLACKCAPS.
Twenty-one-year-old CURTIS HEAPHY enjoyed the win the most, smashing a breakthrough maiden T20 half century of 78 off 57 balls against an attack that included BLACKCAPS Will O’Rourke, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Henry Shipley and Zak Foulkes.
Heaphy's timing and placement was too good for the Kings after the Stags were asked to bat first in front of a buzzing crowd, with plenty of youngsters in town for the Hawke's Bay Cricket Camps catching the spectacle.
Heaphy had aggressive early support from DANE CLEAVER who countered the bounce from the Kings' tall timber with his trademark aerial shot-making, and in the process he became just the fourth Central Stag to achieve 2,000 T20 runs for the team, after TOM BRUCE, GEORGE WORKER and WILL YOUNG.
Cleaver slammed 32 off just 15 balls and every blow was critical in the high-scoring match.
After his dismissal, the Stags kept the runs flowing thanks to Heaphy - who batted into the 18th over of the game - and Bruce who punched out another half century, an unbeaten 50* off 33 balls.
The Kings' top score by comparison was just 358, but quick scoring the middle order meant the Stags had to clamp down as the visitors went for a target of 191.
BLAIR TICKNER got a huge wicket when he stopped a potential onslaught from Mitch Hay, Tickner walking off with a good haul of 4/34 in a 15-run win.
That meant the Stags went two points ahead of the Volts again at the top of the table (with four points for the win).
It was Central's second celebration of the day after the CENTRAL HINDS ended their dry spell in this season's competition with a satisying eight-wicket victory over Lea Tahuhu's Canterbury Magicians.
The Hinds lost the toss and recovered from an erratic start with the ball to remove both openers early thanks to CLAUDIA GREEN's variations, and didn't let any of the Canterbury batters settle in.
PHOTOSPORT
Seamer JESS OGDEN (above) was celebrating her birthday as well as her T20 debut, and it couldn't have gone much better.
Ogden had a day to remember, claiming 3/19 in her first Hinds Super Smash appearance, in injured ROSEMARY MAIR's stead.
The Hinds succeeded in dismissing the Magicians with three balls to spare, then set off after a 120-target in authoritative fashion.
Despite six losses leading up to this game, Hinds opener HOLLIE ARMITAGE headed into this game as the women's Dream11 Super Smash top runscorer this season, and she did it again at McLean.
Playing her 150th T20 overall in a stellar career, the experienced powerhouse batted through the entire chase for a handsome return of 72 not out off just 29 balls as the Hinds took an eight-wicket victory with three whole overs to spare.
On the combined statistical tables, Central batters - TOM BRUCE, JACK BOYLE and ARMITAGE - are the three most prolific batters in the Super Smash this season nationally, and BLAIR TICKNER is the top wicket-taker in the men's comp with 13 wickets - his favourite number.
PHOTOSPORT
Three rounds remain before finals, with the Stags and Hinds playing Northern Brave in Hamilton this Tuesday, then heading to Christchurch to try to make it 2/2 against Canterbury ahead of the final round robin doubleheader against the Auckland Hearts and Aces back at McLean Park on Wednesday 29 January, with the Stags again playing under lights.
The top three teams will head to the Finals weekend at the Cello Basin Reserve on 1-2 February.
Article added: Sunday 19 January 2025
