A brutal eight hours in Auckland has put paid to the Super Smash hopes of both the CENTRAL STAGS and HINDS this summer, both teams finishing a respectable fourth in 2025/26.

They had headed to Eden Park's Outer Oval - the setting for the very last round before Finals and, rumour has it, the last Domestic doubleheader at the Auckland ground - with a chance of booking a respective ticket to the Elimination Finals in Christchurch.

The Hinds were coming in at third on the table after a brilliant, mid-campaign run of five wins in a row.

The Stags had meanwhile bounced back from an unsettled early campaign (a combination of injuries and BLACKCAPS selections dictating player availability) to leap from last to third on the tight, turbulent men's table - only to be nudged back to fourth by a Canterbury washout between the Kings and Brave in the last week.

The Stags proudly won this trophy last season after progressing via the Elimination Final, but needed to beat or tie with the Auckland Aces to get the last spot in the Elimination Final this year.

They got within six runs of a tie (DLS adjusted, with one over lost to rain) after a classy chase, going after the Aces' big total of 219/5 in 19 overs.

They had needed 57 from the last 20 balls.

It was the match of the season.

Nine runs needed from the last two balls, but the Aces were too good with the penultimate ball of the game.

Even captain TOM BRUCE's heroic T20 career-best 95 off 50 balls couldn't see the Stags home: he was run out, leaving SAM CASSIDY to face the last delivery, and needing extras in the mix as well that weren't forthcoming.

"The guys were gutted after that game," says Bruce, "because we felt we has a team that was capable of going to the Finals again to take on the Brave, you know."

"It was really disappointing that we just weren't good enough with the ball and in the field, especially. 

"To let the Aces gets to 219 was not the plan; whereas anything under 200, we would have been happy with, on the good surface.

"Unfortunately it just summed up our campaign - players coming and going as well, but a wee bit messy this season, and we put ourselves in that position.

"We were hoping to scrape in, but the Aces played very well."

•••

Earlier, the Hinds had suffered a hard landing, after such an exciting climb up the ladder.

Last season, the team had finished last with only one win to celebrate.

This summer they improved dramatically - and bounced back from two early losses to win their near-record five in a row, including a very rare win over perennial performers Wellington Blaze. 

Both the Hinds and Stags also suffered an untimely washout in Hamilton in the last week, one that could have provided an invaluable additional two (or three, for the Hinds) points.

In Auckland, the wet weather was still hanging around. But now - when shared points would have done the trick, there was enough time for two matches, and it dissolved into two losses.

After HANNAH ROWE won the toss, the Hearts started hot with the ball.

Aimee Hucker opened with a maiden over, and was backed up well by swing star Bree Illing. Between them they permitted just 10 runs to be scored off the first four overs, and it was an uphill struggle from there for the Hinds.

But they worked hard to get to a respectable 125/4, EMMA McLEOD unbeaten with 39* off 34 at the end of 20 overs.

It just wasn't enough, as WHITE FERN Izzy Gaze (59 off 39) came out and smashed it, attacking the short boundaries (the rope brought in for this game; it previously had not been for the women's fixtures) and taking the game away at speed.

The Hearts had to do that.

They needed to win with four overs to spare in order to stay alive - for while the Hinds just needed a win or a tie, or even a washout, the Hearts had needed to win with a bonus point as well in this shootout for the last spot in the Finals. 

It was effectively a quarterfinal and, of all the possible scenarios, the only one that would stop the Hinds in their tracks was the one that eventuated: the Hearts chased it down in just 13.5 overs, with a cracking run rate just under 9.00 to earn that last spot.

***

The Stags, at least, had the toss go in their favour, bowling first - with the weather hanging around on a four-seasons-in-one-day kinda day in the big smoke. The game would have a late finish.

The Aces had T20 icon Colin Munro back for the first time in six years in this pointy end of the competition, and after a cameo at four the other day against Northern Brave at the same ground, this time they moved him up to open.

Colin Munro | MBUTCHER

The explosive left-hander hit his straps early and blasted 55 off 30 balls - before left-arm spinner JAYDEN LENNOX, fresh off his maiden BLACKCAPS tour, got him caught in the 11th over of the 19-over affair.

Lennox was again outstanding with the ball. But by then, Munro and Lachie Stackpole had done some damage.

They pummelled quick runs together, heir-apparent Stackpole - a fellow explosive left-hander, 20 years old with the most still, steady backlift you'll ever see and tremendous hitting power - reaching 66 off just 34 balls. 

A total of 219/6 in 19 overs was a mighty one to chase in a must-win match, yet the Stags very nearly pulled it off with a strong display of fearlessness and skill. 

Auckland's Angus Olliver (grandson of the late Stags and Marlborough representative, Lyn Sparks) got two big early wickets, but it didn't faze Central who kept the runs coming quickly and stayed on track pretty much through the entire chase.

DANE CLEAVER, with three sixes, played a key role with his 36 off 21, keeping the momentum going early and allowing Bruce to free his arms and attack early as well. 

When Cleaver departed at 102/3, Bruce was joined by JOSH CLARKSON who stood up to the plate despite a lack of recent cricket, and the new pair put on 108 off just 60 balls for the fourth wicker to get the finish line in sight. 

Bruce was commanding.

He hit six sixes and eight fours, and was still a chance for an elusive maiden T20 century when he was run out on 95.

Bruce was the non-striker and the team was desperate for every run, with one ball left in the innings. He had to try.

It was a tough way to walk back to the dugout, after a match that produced 429 runs went down to the last balls.

The Stags now rest up for the resumption of the one-day Ford Trophy next week, their next assignment being Round Six at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.

Then it's home to Napier for another one-dayer at McLean park on Saturday.

The Hinds likewise reset themselves to resume the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield - back at the same ground in Auckland, on the weekend of 7 and 8 February - minus their Super Smash pros GRACE SCRIVENS and BRYONY SMITH who brought so much confidence and skill to the team during the Super Smash campaign.

The Stags are second equal on points in The Ford Trophy, and the first goal now is to haul in current leader Canterbury.

The Hinds are fourth in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with four rounds to go, just one point behind the third-placed Hearts - whom they will be playing, and six points behind the Blaze who are holding second spot, with 20 points left in the season for all teams to make the Final. 

Article added: Tuesday 27 January 2026