Who ruled the Super Smash roost?
OPINION: The Wellington Firebirds claimed the domestic Twenty20 crown for the second time in three years on Saturday, beating the Central Stags in a final at Pukekura Park that had plenty of twists and turns.
With the McDonald’s Super Smash done and dusted for the year, it’s time to take a look at who the standout performers were.
Considering only those who faced or delivered 100 balls (which rules out most of the Black Caps), here is how Stuff picked them. Glenn Phillips Auckland Aces; games: runs: 369, strike rate: 143.02
Finished as the tournament’s leading run scorer, thanks to his unbeaten 57-ball 116 in the Aces’ final game against the Stags. Can keep wicket as well, which he would if this team ever played. Only a matter of when, not if, he plays international cricket. bfHamish Rutherford Otago Volts; games: 306, strike rate: 156.12
Led the way for a Volts side that produced plenty of runs, but lost key men Jimmy Neesham and Neil Broom to the Black Caps, and had the weakest bowling attack of any team. His 46-ball hundred at Pukekura Park as the Volts made 249 was his standout performance, and he was unlucky to miss out on a Black Caps call up himself, when opener Martin Guptill and his replacement Broom were both injured against Bangladesh. Hit more sixes than any other batsman. Henry Nicholls Canterbury Kings; games: runs: 336, strike rate: 141.17
Dropped from the Black Caps’ limited overs squad after the Chappell-Hadlee series in Australia, Nicholls returned to the Kings and flourished. In a team that lacked big hitters and quick scorers, Nicholls’ contributions were extremely valuable, helping the Kings to a place in the elimination final. Corey Anderson Northern Knights; games: runs: 270, strike rate: 143.61
In a Knights side that lacked consistently big hitters, Corey 10, 10, runs: 10, 9, Anderson was the rock, averaging 30 runs every time he went out to bat, and scoring them at an excellent rate. Wasn’t able to bowl during the tournament, which takes a valuable arrow out of his quiver, but still made enough of an impact to earn selection. Tom Bruce Central Stags; games: 9, runs: 283, strike rate: 171.51
A big-hitting batsman out of Te Kuiti, Bruce was so good for the Stags that he received a Black Caps call up, and so was absent as they lost Saturday’s final to the Firebirds. Scored plenty of quick runs at No 4 or No 5, usually coming in after a platform had been set by the likes of George Worker and Mahela Jayawardene. Mark Chapman Auckland Aces; games: 9, runs: 207, strike rate: 154.47, wickets: 6, rpo: 8.36
A Hong Kong international, Chapman has left the door open to playing for the Black Caps in the future, should they want him, and you sense they will come calling at some point before the next World Cup. He is an inventive player, dancing around the crease, as much as he is a big hitter. Also bowls handy left-arm spin, giving this team a full range of options to chose from, minus the rarelysighted left arm chinaman. Todd Astle Canterbury Kings; games: wickets: 13, rpo: 7.04
Picked for his bowling, but will ensure the side’s No 7, if required, is someone that knows how to bat. A superb economy rate and an average better than a wicket per game. Jeetan Patel Wellington Firebirds; games: 11, wickets: 9, rpo: 7.57
One of the most experienced Twenty20 players around in New Zealand, thanks to his English summers spent at Warwickshire, Patel played a big role for the titlewinning Firebirds, keeping things 10, tight for them in the middles of innings. Showed in Saturday’s final that he’s no mug with the bat either, contributing 28 as the Firebirds’ tail got them to a matchwinning total. Seth Rance Central Stags; games: wickets: 15, rpo: 9.01
An economy rate of 9.01 is a tad on the expensive side, but Rance makes the side on the basis of his wicket taking. The 15 scalps he claimed were the joint-most of any bowler in the tournament, equal with Brent Arnel of the Firebirds. Gets the nod over Arnel after one outing (conceding 54 off 4 overs as Otago made 249) distorts his true performance. Ed Nuttall Canterbury Kings; games: wickets: 11, rpo: 7.61
Either leading the Kings’ attack, or playing second fiddle, when Ben Hilfenhaus and Matt Henry were around, Nuttall continued to impress, taking wickets 11, 10, and allowing less than eight runs per over. Was missed as the Kings lost to the Firebirds in the elimination final, having picked up an injury in their final round robin match. Hamish Bennett Wellington Firebirds; games: 7, wickets: 9 rpo: 6.92
Bennett was injured in the Firebirds’ first match, and sorely missed as they began with four losses. Returned in their seventh match, which was another loss, but was a key figure as they then won five in a row and claimed the title for the second time in three years. Allowing fewer than seven runs per over is impressive and he picked up wickets as well.