As the calendar flips to 2026, Hagley Oval sets the stage for a crucial mid-table battle in the Women’s Super Smash 2025-26. Canterbury Magicians comes into this home fixture looking to steady the ship after an inconsistent start to the season. Playing in front of the Christchurch crowd, they’ll be desperate to turn their home ground into a fortress. They face a Central Hinds side that has shown they can be incredibly disruptive when their rhythm clicks.
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
Central Hinds Women’s Cricket Team
Hannah Rowe, Lizzy Cohr, Flora Devonshire, Kate Gaging, Claudia Green, Ashtuti Kumar, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Cate Pedersen, Grace Scrivens, Bryony Smith, Kerry Tomlinson
Players to watch out:
Izzy Sharp
Izzy Sharp has made a strong start to the Women’s Super Smash 2025-26, smashing 65 runs off just 47 balls at a blistering strike rate of 138.30, including two boundaries and eight dot balls to keep the pressure on. With a high-impact knock like that early on, expect her to be a game-changer in the middle order this season.
Rosemary Mair
Rosemary Mair has chipped in with handy 45 runs across two innings for Central Hinds in the Women’s Super Smash 2025-26 so far, averaging 22.50 at a sharp strike rate of 151.57 that shows her lower-order punch. Her batting nous adds real depth, turning potential collapses into fighting totals early in the tournament.
Claudia Green
Claudia Green has picked up 2 wickets for just 20 runs in 4 overs at a tidy economy of 5.00 for Otago Sparks, grabbing her best figures of the season so far in a single outing. She’s shown good control in limited opportunities, proving her worth as a strike bowler early in the campaign. With that kind of start, Green could climb the wickets chart if she gets more overs.
Gabby Sullivan
Gabby Sullivan snared 2 wickets for 31 runs in her only outing of 3 overs, conceding at 10.33 but striking at a handy rate of 9.00 balls per wicket for Auckland Hearts. She’s come off the bench to make an immediate dent, hinting at her potential as a death-over specialist. Keep an eye on her as she pushes for a regular spot.
Pitch:
Hagley Oval in Christchurch features a balanced pitch that generally favors batters with even bounce and good pace, enabling fluent strokeplay. The surface offers early assistance to pacers through swing and seam due to the breeze, but it flattens out later, making second innings batting advantageous. Spinners receive limited help as the pitch remains true throughout.
Weather:
Christchurch forecast indicates mild summer conditions with partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 20-24°C daytime. Light winds and low rain chance support uninterrupted play. Evening highs near 15°C with minimal precipitation risk.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Flora Devonshire, Claudia Green, Rosemary Mair, Cate Pedersen, Grace Scrivens, Bryony Smith, Lea Tahuhu, Kate Anderson, Missy Banks, Izzy Sharp, Gabby Sullivan
Match Details:
Date – January 01, 2026
Time – 6:40 AM IST
Venue – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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