A full house with 8000 people, perfect evening weather, a sunset and a high-scoring T20 combined to make the first Dream11 Super Smash game under lights at Hagley Oval a success... for everyone but the home team.

Applause encircled the chocker ground when the lights were flicked on at sunset, everyone had a smashing time, but mainly the Stags who have now gone equal top of the table with another big win away.

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The Kings gave it a fair nudge though, Daryl Mitchell - fresh off his maiden Test century - shining under lights on T20 debut for the Canterbury Kings.

He punched 76 off 46 balls, and it was all the more an important knock given the Kings had lost both their openers bang-bang in the first few balls of the chase to be on the back foot early at 2-1.

So there was Mitchell, and for a while Jack Boyle before steady captain Cole McConchie replaced him, trying to deliver for the big home crowd as they went after the Stags' total of 186 for five.

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But it was a big chase in the conditions thanks to another exciting batting performance from the Stags, who have now chalked up four wins from six games.

Stags captain George Worker had won the toss and, coming off his maiden T20 century two days earlier, again got his side off to a healthy start with a run-a-ball 31.

He formed a 79-stand for the second with Will Young who totted up his second half ton in two games, reaching 68 off just 43 balls as if he'd never been away.

With seven boundaries and two sixes, Young was once again all class, and compensated for the early loss of Dane Cleaver and cameo from Ross Taylor who was playing his first T20 for the Stags in four years.

ANOTHER DOUG BRACEWELL GAMECHANGER GONG

It was Young who stood in the way of the Kings' dream game, in control and batting until the 15th over, alongside Doug Bracewell who made important blows with both bat and ball.

The Kings had Matt Henry (2-32) and he started brilliantly with a stinging caught-and-bowled to dismiss Dane Cleaver for no score. But the Stags batted deep, and the big hitters just kept coming.

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Josh Clarkson (26 off 15) and Bracewell (an unbeaten 37* off 16) provided the turbo-charge at the death to set the Kings a challenging ask under lights - a chase that was made more difficult when Bracewell had Chad Bowes caught by Ross Taylor (playing his first Dream11 Super Smash match in four years) first ball of the innings.

Bracewell then removed the Kings' other opener Ken McClure for no score five balls later in a sensational start, but Mitchell's composure, peppered with eight boundaries and a six, saw the Kings climb past the required asking rate through the middle stages of the innings to make the Stags sweat.

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The Stags fought back, however, with BLACKCAP Blair Tickner breaking the dangerous 91-run stand between Kings captain Cole McConchie (28 off 27) and classy Mitchell, before allrounder Clarkson took the crucial wicket of Mitchell in the 16th over, after which the visitors were back in control.

Stags first drop Young said playing under the new Hagley lights was an "amazing" experience.

"They're really bright. If the ball comes into them, you'd better watch out! To see the banks full at nine and ten o'clock at night was very cool, and I think it's going to be a fantastic asset not only for T20s, but for ODIs back here in the future for Christchurch."

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After having missed last summer's Dream11 Super Smash season following shoulder surgery, Young has now scored back-to-back knocks of 50 and 68 in his first two games back for the T20 team.

"I haven't played much Super Smash cricket in a while, so it's been nice to be back out there and having some fun, and contributing to the team's wins."

The four-point victory pushed the Stags up to 16 points on the table, equal again with leaders the Wellington Firebirds (who have played fewer matches) and holding an eight-point gap over the Kings who will be back at Hagley Oval tonight to take on the winless Auckland Aces.

Central Stags beat Canterbury Kings by 18 runs

Canterbury Magicians beat Central Hinds by eight wickets

Earlier, the Canterbury Magicians had brushed aside the Central Hinds by eight wickets to effectively end the Hinds' chances in the campaign.

Our injury-hit national one-day leaders suffered their sixth straight T20 defeat in co-captain Jess Watkin's 50th game while opposing Magicians skipper Frankie Mackay strangled the batting with an outstanding, career-best haul of 4-10 off her four overs.

Mackay then narrowly fell short of what would have been a 15th T20 half century when she was caught on a 33-ball 48 in the chase.

WHITE FERN Amy Satterthwaite (29* off 20) and Kate Ebrahim (15* off 13) carried on her momentum to steer the Magicians home, chasing down the Hinds' 100/9 with seven overs to spare.

The Hinds had suffered some dreadful luck when Hannah Rowe was run out after colliding with the bowler as she turned and losing her bat.

The Hinds and Stags are next in action at Pukekura Park this coming Monday afternoon (18 Jan 2021), against the Otago Sparks and Volts. Prepurchase your tickets online now to save on gate prices.

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Article added: Tuesday 12 January 2021