Northern Brave will meet Auckland Hearts in the Women’s Super Smash 2025-26 Eliminator at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The Hearts have had a rough patch recently, but they bounced back strongly in their last match with a solid victory, making a statement in the tournament. Maddy Green will be looking to overcome this challenge and get through to the final and give it their all. Meanwhile, the Brave have had a promising run in the tournament with a strong unbeaten streak. Jess Watkin will be confident that her side will make it to the final, considering their strong performance.
Squads:
Auckland Hearts Women’s Cricket Team
Maddy Green, Olivia Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Elizabeth Buchanan, Prue Catton, Lauren Down, Brooke Halliday, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Fran Jonas, Ayaan Lambat, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold, Anika Tauwhare
Northern Brave Women’s Cricket Team
Carol Agafili, Lucy Boucher, Marama Downes, Caitlin Gurrey, Yaz Kareem, Kayley Knight, Sophie Court, Nensi Patel, Holly Topp, Marina Lamplough, Tash Wakelin, Skye Bowden, Jess Watkin, Eve Wolland
Players to watch out:
Marama Downes
Marama Downes, the New Zealand bowler, has been quite the performer for her side in this edition of the Super Smash, displaying her ability to pick wickets and contain runs in crucial situations. She has picked up 15 wickets at an economical rate in this season so far and she has delivered a couple of match-winning spells. She picked up 2 wickets against Canterbury Magicians in her previous encounter. She will be looking to lead the bowling unit against a brilliant Auckland Hearts’ batting unit.
Nensi Patel
Nensi Patel, the New Zealand all-rounder, has been decent for the Brave this season, with good contributions with both bat and ball. She has been quite the batter in the domestic circuit as she provides stability to the middle order and also can provide a couple of overs in the middle. She has scored 157 runs and has picked up 9 wickets in this season. She also scored a match-winning half century against Canterbury Magicians in their last match. She will be looking to contribute efficiently with the bat in the coming important games as well.
Molly Penfold
Molly Penfold, the New Zealand right-arm seamer has been one of the most consistent performers for Auckland Hearts this season. In her T20I career, she has picked up 7 wickets from 10 matches at an economy of 8. She has picked up 14 wickets in this season so far, proving to be a lethal bowler. In her last match, she picked up 2 wickets against Central Hinds, giving away just 25 runs. She will be looking to maintain her good run as she will have to keep her composure under pressure.
Isabella Gaze
Isabella Gaze, the New Zealand wicket-keeper batter, has been in decent touch so far in this edition of the Women’s Super Smash. In her T20I career, she has scored 217 runs from 21 innings, including a half-century. She has scored 209 runs in the season so far, displaying her consistency. She scored a match-winning 59 in her last match against Central Hinds. She will be the batter that Auckland Hearts will have their hopes pinned on.
Pitch:
The Hagley Oval pitch generally offers a surface that generally favours the pacers. Seam bowlers tend to get movement with the new ball, but the surface is also good for batters who rely on technique and timing.
Weather:
The forecast predicts light rain and a high of 18°C, with a 10% chance of precipitation during the day and a 20% chance at night.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Prue Catton, Tash Wakelin, Jess Watkin, Nensi Patel, Brooke Halliday, Kayley Knight, Eve Wolland, Molly Penfold, Anna Browning
Match Details:
Date – January 30, 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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