THE CENTRAL STAGS have headed into the Wellington Firebirds' lair needing just one more win from their last two games to lock in a place in this year's Dream11 Super Smash finals.

Meanwhile the Firebirds, who hold an eight-point advantage over both the second-ranked Stags and third-ranked Canterbury Kings after eight rounds, need just one more win from their last two games to claim automatic entry to the Grand Final coming up in two weeks' time.

The Otago Volts and Northern Knights remain outside contenders, their chances mathematical while the Stags and Kings - who will play each other on Friday 5 February under lights in Napier in the last round - control their own destiny and can eliminate the teams dangling by a thread, starting with tomorrow afternoon's top of the table clash at the Basin Reserve.

 

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The Stags have made one change from the squad that suffered an 18-run upset loss in Auckland last week, recalled economical spinner JAYDEN LENNOX who comes in for allrounder KIERAN NOEMA-BARNETT.

Lennox joins senior spinner AJAZ PATEL, who is set to play his 50th T20 for the Stags, as well as support crew GEORGE WORKER and TOM BRUCE in the slow bowling department, while the Central Hinds have named an unchanged squad as they head into a big clash with the top of the table  Wellington Blaze, the Hinds coming off two consecutive and morale-boosting wins.

50th GAME FOR AJAZ PATEL | PHOTOSPORT

 

 

The Stags are fired up to take on the Firebirds in their own backyard, having hit their straps with a stream of impressive performances since the two sides met in the first round at McLean Park - a rare off night for Central.

 

Tomorrow's men's action in the capital begins at 2.40PM, with both games livestreamed by Spark Sport and the Hinds-Blaze clash also free to air on TV One from 11.10AM.

 

DOUG BRACEWELL in fine touch this summer | PHOTOSPORT

 

Following tomorrow's doubleheader, the Stags and Hinds will return to Napier where the Stags will host a free Family Fun Day for kids to meet their favourite players, at Nelson Park noon-1PM on Thursday 4 February.

Friday then sees the teams in action at McLean Park, the Hinds getting underway at 3.40PM and the crunch Stags-Kings match under lights from 7.10PM - all set for a thrilling evening's entertainment as Hawke's Bay unwinds into Waitangi weekend.

 

THE HINDS ARE COMING OFF TWO WINS ON THE BOUNCE | PHOTOSPORT

 

Despite doing it tough through the early part of the campaign, the out of contention Hinds are finding momentum at a key stage as they look to take that winning feeling and confidence back into one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, where they are the top team in the race for the Grand Final.

 

In the T20 format they can also take heart from the successful introduction of new young faces like Anna and Kate Gaging, the side adapting well after injuries to several mainstays of the squad, including WHITE FERN Rosemary Mair.

NATALIE DODD | PHOTOSPORT

The ever consistent NATALIE DODD has also been one of the top runscorers in the women's league, the 28-year-old top order star among the top four run-makers nationally with 233 from eight innings, along with six dismissals behind the stumps.

DOUBLEHEADER v Wellington

Basin Reserve • Wellington

Sunday 31 January 2021 

CENTRAL STAGS

v Wellington Firebirds 2.40PM

Live on SPARK Sport

Tom Bruce — captain — Taranaki

Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper — Manawatu

Joey Field — Hawke’s Bay

Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay, BLACKCAPS contract

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS contract

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

George Worker — Manawatu

Will Young — Taranaki, BLACKCAPS contract

Coach — Aldin Smith

Assistant Coach — Dion Ebrahim

CENTRAL HINDS

v Wellington Blaze 11.10AM

Jess Watkin — co-captain — Manawatu

Hannah Rowe — co-captain — Manawatu — WHITE FERNS contract

Natalie Dodd — wicketkeeper — Taranaki — WHITE FERNS contract

Emily Cunningham  — Taranaki

Kate Gaging — Nelson

Kerry Tomlinson — Hawke’s Bay

Claudia Green — Nelson

Melissa Hansen — Wairarapa

Monique Rees — Wairarapa

Georgia Atkinson — Manawatu

Anlo van Deventer — Wairarapa

Ashtuti Kumar — Manawatu

Coach — Jamie Watkins

Article added: Saturday 30 January 2021