In the ongoing 2024-25 Women’s T20 Super Smash, both Auckland Hearts and Northern Brave have each managed one win from their respective four and three games, with one game abandoned due to rain. The two teams will face off in match no. 13 on the 13th of January 2025, at Seddon Park, Hamilton, at 5:10 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Auckland Hearts
Bella Armstrong, Prue Catton, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green (C), Brooke Halliday, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Fran Jonas, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold, Saachi Shahri
Northern Brave
Carol Agafili, Chamari Athapaththu, Marama Downes, Caitlin Gurrey, Yaz Kareem, Shriya Naidu, Holly Topp, Tash Wakelin, Nensi Patel, Jess Watkin (C), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Eve Wolland
Players to watch out:
Saachi Shahri
The 27-year-old top-order batter, from 8 outings in the Smash last season, accumulated 126 runs, with the highest score of 37. Saachi had a decent start to the 2024-25 domestic season, registering scores of 76 and 62 a couple of innings apart in the One Dayers. In the T20 fixtures, she has managed starts of 10 and 14 and should be backed to convert them into substantial scores.
Bree Illing
The 21-year-old left-arm pacer, in the Smash last season, secured 6 wickets from 8 outings, at an economy rate of 6.30. Building on the momentum, Bree secured 13 wickets from 6 outings in the first leg of the One Day fixtures and carried the form into the Smash season, taking 3 wickets from 4 T20 outings. She can be counted on to produce breakthroughs, stepping up her efforts.
Jess Watkin
The 26-year-old all-rounder, from 11 outings in the previous Smash season, posted 142 runs at a strike rate of 107.57, while also picking up 11 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 5.78. Jess had a good start to this domestic season, and continuing in the same form, registered scores of 34 and 51*, alongside bowling returns of 0/39 and 2/22 in the T20s. She can be trusted for the goods.
Amanda-Jade Wellington
The 27-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder, in the WBBL, has bagged 157 wickets from 140 outings, at an economy rate of 6.78, and has chipped in with 675 runs from 73 innings, at a strike rate of 130.30. Amanda-Jade has registered bowling figures of 0/21 (4) and 2/23 (4) in this Smash season and will be relied upon to lead the wickets tally, as well as contribute a few handy runs down the order.
Pitch:
The 22 yards at Seddon Park make up a well-balanced center wicket that offers a fair contest between bat and ball, evident in the average score being in the 130s. While batters find delight in the wicket, bowlers, particularly pacers, find assistance off the surface.
Weather:
It will be a pleasant day at Seddon Park for some cricket, with a low chance of rain and sunny skies. The temperature is forecast to be around 23°C, with moderate winds and humidity at 48%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze, Lauren Down, Saachi Shahri, Chamari Athapaththu, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Jess Watkin, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Bree Illing, Josie Penfold
Match details:
Date – January 13, 2025
Time – 5:10 AM IST
Venue – Seddon Park, Hamilton
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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