Wellington Firebirds retain New Zealand s national T20 title
Sat, Feb 13 2021 06:57:30 PM
Wellington, Feb 13 (IANS): The Wellington Firebirds have become just the second team to win New Zealand s men s domestic T20 title back-to-back after both Dream11 Super Smash Grand Finals ended in exciting last-over finishes at a buzzing Basin Reserve here.
Clinical, calm opener Devon Conway thrilled the 5,000-strong crowd as he hit the winning boundary with two balls to spare as the defending champions chased down 175 for eight wickets from the Canterbury Kings.
Looking to win their first trophy since the first national T20 competition in 2005-06, the hungry Kings kept themselves in it with the ball despite losing the bowling services of Daryl Mitchell after the all-rounder pulled a side muscle whilst leaping outstretched for an attempted catch, having bowled just one over for four runs.
Cole McConchie’s 50 led the Canterbury Kings to victory against the Otago Volts.
Captain Cole McConchie kicked on to catapult the Canterbury Kings into the men s Twenty20 Super Smash finals after powering past the Otago Volts in Christchurch. Otago were threatening to post a big first-innings total but Neil Broom s departure for 48 from 37 balls, combined with a tight four overs of leg-spin from Todd Astle (2-18), slowed the Volts down, leaving the Kings chasing 163 under the new lights at Hagley Oval on Saturday. The Kings looked awfully shaky, needing 53 from 36 balls, but McConchie steadied their chase with a priceless, match-winning 50 from 36 to take his side into second, above the Central Stags, and assured of a finals place.
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The Canterbury Kings beat the Auckland Aces in the Super Smash at Hagley Oval on Monday (File Photo).
Jack Boyle and Leo Carter led the way as the Canterbury Kings secured their first win under lights at Hagley Oval in the Twenty20 Super Smash on Monday, beating the Auckland Aces by six runs in a nail-biting finish. Boyle made 44 off 34 balls and Carter smashed 42 off 28 to help the hosts post 154-6 from their 20 overs in Christchurch. Matt Henry and Ed Nuttall then struck early with the ball, removing Black Caps batsmen Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips and putting the Aces under plenty of pressure.