Super Smash 2021: Northern Brave complete easy win after bowlers rip apart Auckland

Northern Brave rode on a spectacular bowling performance from the unit to thump Auckland on Monday, 20 December. Batting first, Auckland had a dismal start to the proceedings as they lost early wickets and were left tottering at 61/9. 

It was Lockie Ferguson and Ben Lister who chipped in with a partnership of 31 runs helping Auckland reach 92 before getting bundled. Anurag Verma and Frederick Walker picked up three wickets each for the side while Ish Sodhi scalped two of them. Sodhi's figures were exceptional considering the help seamers got in the game. At the end of the innings, he registered 4-0-5-2.

With no scoreboard pressure whatsoever, Northern Brave openers Katene Clarke and Tim Seifert started off the chase well as the two put up 65 for the first wicket before Clarke departed for 28 off 32. 

Brave then lost three more wickets but that didn’t really cause much of a concern as the side went over the line by 6 wickets in just over 15 overs. Seifert top-scored for his team with an unbeaten 42-ball 38. Sean Solia returned with figures of 2/16 in 3 overs for his team. 

The Northern Brave now have 10 points from 4 games while Auckland are tottering at the bottom of the points table, still searching for a win. Brave will now play Canterbury in Mount Maunganui on Thursday while Auckland will be up against Wellington in Wellington on Friday.