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The 7th match of the Women’s Super Smash 2024-25 will see Central Hinds take on Wellington Blaze at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on 4th January 2025, at 5:10 AM IST. The Women’s Super Smash is New Zealand’s premier domestic T20 competition, featuring six teams competing in a round-robin format followed by playoffs.
Wellington Blaze, the defending champions and the most successful team in the tournament’s history, have already registered a win this season. Meanwhile, Central Hinds suffered a narrow defeat in their opening game and will be eager to bounce back. However, with a dominant 5-0 head-to-head record in the last five games against the Hinds, Wellington Blaze will go into this match as favorites.
Match Details
| Fixture | Central Hinds vs. Wellington Blaze |
|---|---|
| Date | January 4, 2025 |
| Time | 5:10 AM IST |
| Venue | Saxton Oval, Nelson |
Teams Preview
Central Hinds Preview
The Central Hinds have struggled in recent years, with their last title win coming in the 2009-10 season. Despite a solid bowling performance in their opening game against Otago Sparks, the Hinds’ batting lineup faltered, managing just 89 runs, which proved insufficient in a one-wicket loss.
Hollie Armitage was the standout batter, scoring an unbeaten 32, but she lacked support from the other batters. The bowling unit, led by Hannah Rowe (3/13) and supported by Rosemary Mair and Ocean Bartlett, did well to push the game to the final over. For the Hinds to succeed against a strong Wellington side, their batters must step up and complement the excellent bowling attack.
Key Players: Hollie Armitage, Hannah Rowe, Mikaela Greig
Central Hinds Predicted Playing XI:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Emma McLeod | Batter |
| Hollie Armitage | Batter |
| Thamsyn Newton | Batter |
| Hannah Rowe | All-rounder |
| Mikaela Greig (c) | All-rounder |
| Kerry-Anne Tomlinson | Batter |
| Flora Devonshire | All-rounder |
| Rosemary Mair | Bowler |
| Kate Gaging (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
| Claudia Green | Bowler |
| Ocean Bartlett | Bowler |
Wellington Blaze Preview
Wellington Blaze is the most dominant team in Women’s Super Smash, boasting eight titles. They started the season with a close win against Northern Brave, thanks to an all-around performance by captain Amelia Kerr, who scored 67 runs and took 4 wickets.
The Blaze’s top order, including Jess Kerr, also shone with a quick 61 off 39 balls. Their bowling attack, led by Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek, ensured a four-run victory in a high-scoring contest. With a balanced side and strong history against Central Hinds, the Blaze will be confident of maintaining their winning streak.
Key Players: Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Leigh Kasperek
Wellington Blaze Predicted Playing XI:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Amelia Kerr (c) | All-rounder |
| Ellyse Perry | Batter |
| Rebecca Burns | Batter |
| Leigh Kasperek | All-rounder |
| Jess Kerr | All-rounder |
| Kate Chandler | Bowler |
| Jessica McFadyen (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
| Caitlin King | All-rounder |
| Xara Jetly | Bowler |
| Hannah Francis | Bowler |
| Natasha Codyre | Bowler |
Fantasy Team XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Captain | Amelia Kerr |
| Vice-Captain | Hannah Rowe |
| Batsmen | Hollie Armitage, Rebecca Burns, Ellyse Perry |
| All-rounders | Jess Kerr, Leigh Kasperek, Mikaela Greig |
| Wicketkeeper | Jessica McFadyen |
| Bowlers | Rosemary Mair, Claudia Green, Natasha Codyre, Ocean Bartlett |
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Pitch Report
The Saxton Oval pitch is known for its balanced conditions, providing assistance to both batters and bowlers. The surface offers consistent bounce, making stroke play easier once batters are set, but bowlers can exploit any early movement.
Toss: To Bat
With limited T20 games played at this venue, teams may prefer batting first to put up a challenging total on the board.
Weather Report
The weather in Nelson is expected to be mostly cloudy, with temperatures ranging between 21°C and 11°C. Although there might be some drizzle early in the day, it is unlikely to impact the game.
Winning Prediction
Wellington Blaze’s balanced lineup and strong head-to-head record against Central Hinds make them the favorites for this clash. While the Hinds have shown glimpses of brilliance in their bowling, their batting needs significant improvement to challenge the defending champions.
Prediction: Wellington Blaze to win the match.
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