Auckland Hearts and Canterbury Magicians are set for a high-stakes rematch in the Women’s Super Smash 2025-26, at the Kennards Hire Community Oval, on January 14, following a very one-sided encounter in their last meeting. Auckland Hearts come into Match 19 sitting comfortably in 3rd place on the points table with 16 points, despite a narrow loss to Otago Sparks in their most recent outing. On the other hand, Canterbury Magicians have had a rough summer and currently find themselves at the bottom of the ladder, having yet to secure a win and managing only two points across five matches.
Squads:
Canterbury Magicians Women’s Cricket Team
Lea Tahuhu, Kate Anderson, Sarah Asmussen, Missy Banks, Kate Chandler, Nat Cox, Jodie Dean, Abigale Gerken, Abigail Hotton, Kate Irwin, Izzy Sharp, Gabby Sullivan
Auckland Hearts Women’s Cricket Team
Olivia Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Elizabeth Buchanan, Prue Catton, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Ayaan Lambat, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold
Players to watch out:
Josie Penfold
Josie has been a reliable presence for Auckland Hearts this season, proving her worth as a disciplined medium-pacer picking up 7 wickets in the tournament so far with best bowling figures of 4 for 29 to her name as well. She caught everyone’s attention with a standout performance against Wellington Blaze, where she claimed 2 for 17 in a tidy three-over spell. Her ability to build pressure is backed up by the numbers, as she currently ranks among the tournament’s best for dot-ball percentage, sitting at 51.85%.
Melissa Banks
A mainstay for Canterbury Magicians, Melissa continues to be the frontline threat they turn to when they need a breakthrough. She has already picked up 6 wickets this season, including a sharp 2 for 23 against Otago Sparks and another vital two-wicket haul against Northern Brave. With a career strike rate that sees her take a wicket roughly every 18 balls, she remains one of the most consistent bowlers in the competition. Her experience is clear every time she takes the ball, often operating with an economy that keeps the Magicians in the fight.
Izzy Sharp
Izzy has been one of the most exciting stories of the summer, currently sitting as the 7th highest run-scorer in the league with 186 runs. She has played some truly gritty knocks for Canterbury Magicians, most notably a resilient 65* off 47 balls against Otago Sparks and a fighting 61 against Central Hinds. Her ability to anchor an innings while still maintaining a healthy strike rate has seen her clear the boundary six times so far. She is quickly becoming the backbone of the batting order.
Brooke Halliday
Brooke is having a massive season for Auckland Hearts, leading from the front with her aggressive middle-order batting with 175 runs to her name so far in this season. Her highlight so far was a dominant 62 off 47 balls against the Magicians, an innings that included eight boundaries and effectively put the game out of reach. She has a knack for finding the gaps under pressure and has been instrumental in helping the Hearts secure their place near the top of the table.
Pitch:
Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland features a flat, hard wicket that primarily favors batters, allowing for aggressive strokeplay across the line due to relatively short boundaries. Fast bowlers gain some extra pace and bounce early on, but containing runs proves challenging as the surface supports high scores, with first innings averages around 167 in T20 matches.
Weather:
The conditions on match day are overcast with showers late, highs of 79°F (26°C), lows 58°F (14°C), 22% chance of 0.04″ rain. Light 2 mph winds feel like 80°F. Damp conditions may affect play.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Lea Tahuhu, Kate Anderson, Jodie Dean, Izzy Sharp, Gabby Sullivan, Prue Catton, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Amie Hucker, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold
Match Details:
Date – January 14, 2026
Time – 9:20 AM IST
Venue – Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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