Wellington’s Finn Allen began the Super Smash 2021-22 competition with a fine half-century against Canterbury on Friday in Christchurch. Batting first, Wellington began the proceedings well with Allen and Luke Georgeson putting up 89 runs for the first wicket before the latter departed for a 22-ball 30.
Allen then followed his opening partner within a span of two balls for 57 off 30 deliveries, a knock that involved four maximums and as many fours during the course of the innings.
While the openers had laid the foundation for a good total, Bracewell, Jamie Gibson and van Beek chipped in with individual contributions to help the side put 177/7 in 20 overs. Bracewell struck 27 off 17 while Gibson remained unbeaten at 22 off 19. Van Beek chipped in with an 11-ball 17.
Ed Nuttall was the pick of the bowlers for Canterbury as he scalped a three-for at the cost of 31 runs in 4 overs.
Later, Canterbury didn’t really have a great start to the chase and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 94/6 and eventually get restricted to 150/9 in 20 overs and suffer a defeat by 27 runs. Bracewell returned with figures of 3/22 in 4 overs while Peter Younghusband had one wicket to his name for 8 runs in two overs.
Wellington will now play Central Districts on Sunday (December 5, 2021) while Canterbury will be up against the same opposition on December 10, 2021.