Heat on from Blaze, Firebirds
The Wellington Firebirds had to wait a little longer than they would have liked to secure a home final in the Twenty20 Super Smash, but they got there – and now they’re looking to make the most of it.
After losing to the Auckland Aces last Sunday, they waited to see if the Otago Volts could beat the Canterbury Kings on Tuesday, and snatch the prize out of their grasp.
But thanks largely to Kings opener Chad Bowes, who blasted a rapid-fire 95 in their win, they got the result they were hoping for.
With the Wellington Blaze winning 10 from 10 in the women’s Super Smash to lock up hosting rights for their decider, originally scheduled to be a standalone fixture on Saturday, common sense prevailed and a doubleheader was organised for Sunday at the Basin Reserve.
The Firebirds will host the Auckland Aces who beat the Volts in the elimination final with the Blaze looking to complete a perfect season against the Auckland Hearts beforehand.
"The whole way through the campaign, you just want to get in the final and give yourself a chance of winning it," Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell said yesterday.
"One thing that we’ve ticked off this year is finishing top of the ladder and guaranteeing that place in the final, then whatever happens in the final [happens]."
There hasn’t been a standout team in the men’s Super Smash this season, with all three of the finalists losing four matches and the other three teams all losing five – it was in part because they never had a match abandoned due to rain that the Firebirds finished top.
But they do have the best batsman in the competition in their ranks – Black-Cap-in-waiting Devon Conway, who has scored five 50s and a century on his way to averaging 70.57 with a strike rate of
146.58 – and two of the top three wicket-takers in Ollie Newton (16 at
19.62) and Hamish Bennett (14 at
15.64), who earned a Black Caps callup this week.
"It’s been an inspiration to us all playing with them and seeing what they’re capable of," Bracewell said.
"Devon’s scored two hundreds the last two seasons and you look back on his innings and he didn’t really play a shot in anger, he was just playing good cricket shots and reacting to the ball.
Batsman Michael Pollard has also made a significant contribution in passing 50 three times – the only Firebird to do so other than Conway.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham missed the Firebirds’ last two matches with a quad injury, but Bracewell said he could be a chance to return for the decider.
Bennett’s callup to the national side was swiftly followed by news of Blaze seamer Jess Kerr’s first selection for the White Ferns – recognition that Bracewell puts up their with winning titles.
"While you’re there to win competitions and take home trophies, you’re also trying to produce New Zealand players, and as much as Cricket Wellington will be happy with the two finals, and two shots at winning a championship, there’s also people putting their hands up for higher honours.’’