Canterbury will face Auckland on January 10 [Source: @SuperSmashNZ/X.com]
The 11th match of the Super Smash 2024-25 is set to begin at 8:55 AM IST at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on January 10. The clash will see two prominent franchises of the league, Canterbury Kings and Auckland Aces, clashing their swords against each other.
Canterbury
Canterbury's campaign in the ongoing Super Smash 2024-25 season has been off to a rough start, with the team yet to register a win in their first three matches. Currently languishing at the bottom of the points table with 0 points and a net run rate of -0.597, Canterbury faces an uphill battle to turn their fortunes around. With some experienced players in their ranks, the team will aim to find a winning formula against the Auckland Aces for the upcoming clash.
Auckland
Auckland has made a confident start in the Super Smash 2024-25 season, currently holding the third position on the points table with 8 points and a healthy net run rate of +0.650. In three matches, they have secured one win and benefitted from two no-result outcomes due to weather interruptions. Auckland was victorious against Canterbury in their first clash, where they defended 185 runs successfully and might hand them another defeat for the second time in the upcoming clash.
CTB vs AA Head-To-Head Record
Matches Played | Canterbury Won | Auckland Won | No Result |
---|---|---|---|
31 | 14 | 17 | 0 |
How Will The Hagley Oval Pitch Behave?
The Hagley Oval in Christchurch is renowned for its fast and bouncy pitches, offering ample assistance to fast bowlers. The lively surface, often featuring a generous covering of grass, generates significant seam movement and bounce, making life challenging for batters in the early stages. However, as the match progresses, the pitch tends to settle down, providing more favourable conditions for batting.
Historically, teams batting second have enjoyed a slight advantage at this venue. Consequently, the toss-winning captain will likely choose to bowl first to secure a low-total chase.
Players To Watch Out For In CTB vs AA
Canterbury
Henry Shipley: Henry Shipley outfoxed the Auckland Aces batters in his first outing against the team where he delivered one of his career-best figures of 5-19. His bowling extravaganza along with his part-time explosive batting in the lower-order which made him blow 40 off 17 balls in the last match against Otago Volts, makes him a standout player for the Kings.
Cole McConchie: The 32-year-old all-rounder Cole McConchie shone in his match against Otago where he scalped 2 wickets for 23 runs and also bagged 49 runs off 34 balls to play a captain's knock for his team. With a strike rate of 117.54, the skipper of Kings is expected to be a key player for his team for the upcoming clash.
Zak Foulkes: The 22-year-old young gun hasn't proved himself yet in the league with his only match being against Otago where he proved to be expensive giving away 42 runs for 1 wicket. However, he might turn things around at Hagley where he will get help from the seam-friendly pitch and will be able to menace the Aces early.
Auckland
Martin Guptill: Martin Guptill recently announced his retirement from International cricket but is in red-hot form showing consistent performances in Super Smash. He managed to bag 31 and 60 runs playing explosive knocks in his two matches. With a strike rate of 156.90, Guptill is one of the favourites to bag the match for Aces.
Jock McKenzie: The 23-year-old Jock McKenzie was sensational in his first match of this season against the Canterbury with his 3-fer for 31 runs. He scalped crucial wickets in the previous match and is expected to repeat his heroics for his team in the upcoming match too.
Sean Solia: Sean Solia is a reliable batter for his team. Although he hasn't been able to fully showcase his potential in the league. However, Solia's reputation promises to deliver a spectacular inning at Hagley, where he can contribute with the bat and help turn things around for the Aces.
Today's Match Prediction: CTB vs AA
Predicted Top Performers
Canterbury: Henry Shipley, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes
Auckland: Martin Guptill, Jock McKenzie, Sean Solia
CTB vs AA: Predicted Score
Predicted first innings score: 140-150
Predicted second innings score: 150-160