Conway’s bat guides Firebirds to Super Smash title

BLACK Caps batsman Devon Conway played a matchwinning innings as the Wellington Firebirds claimed backtoback Super Smash titles with a fivewicket win over the Canterbury Kings in Wellingon on Saturday.

Conway carried his bat, finishing unbeaten on 93 off 63 balls, and fittingly hit the winning runs, driving Will Williams through backward point for four to seal the title with two balls to spare.

Conway had support from Troy Johnson (28 off 15), Jimmy Neesham (18 off 12) and Jamie Gibson (16 not out off 10), after Canterbury had removed the dangerous Finn Allen early for 16, and Tom Blundell for a secondball duck.

It made for a difficult chase after Canterbury had earlier posted 175 for eight, led by Chad

Bowes (37 off 23), Daryl Mitchell (35 off 24), Henry Shipley (29 off 15) and to a lesser extent Cole McConchie (44 off 39).

It could have been enough, especially when Wellington needed 21 from the final two overs, but three boundaries off Matt Henry's penultimate over left just six needed off Williams' final over and Conway's class shone through.

The Canterbury Magicians completed a thrilling comeback to stun the Wellington Blaze and claim the women’s title.

A hattrick to White Ferns star Amelia Kerr had left the Magicians in tatters at 40 for five after 10 overs, chasing Wellington's 126, and things looked similarly bleak at 60 for six with just 6.3 overs remaining.

However, Kate Ebrahim and

Lea Tahuhu saw the Magicians home with two balls to spare, denying the Blaze a record fourth consecutive domestic Twenty20 title.

Ebrahim was the steadying hand with an unbeaten 45 off 40 balls but Tahuhu did the damage, blasting 38 not out off 20. Her three sixes including a pivotal blast over longoff in the final over.