Who will win Northern Knights vs Wellington, Super Smash 2019-20?
Wellington Firebirds will be keen to avenge their New Year’s Day defeat to Northern Knights when the two teams meet again in the 2019-20 Super Smash. The match, at Basin Reserve, Wellington, takes place on January 3 and gets underway at 16:10 local time.
Northern Knights chased 162 to win by five wickets when they met on New Year’s Day – just their second win of the season from five completed games. Ish Sodhi claimed 3-12 with the ball and Daryl Mitchell hit a half-century with the bat.
The Firebirds remain second in the table, however, and will climb to first with a win. With Devon Conway in excellent batting form, they had previously won four of their first five matches and victory will taken them to 20 points – two clear of Otago Volts.
NK vs WEL, Super Smash 2019-20: Where to watch/Live streaming
Live TV: Sky Sport NZ, Radio Sport, Star Sports
Live streaming: Sky Go, Hotstar
NK vs WEL Toss Prediction
Wellington Firebirds won the toss and batted first at Mount Maunganui. Northern Knights may have won chasing, but they could be tempted to bat first on a batting wicket at Basin Reserve.
NK vs WEL Weather Report
Though rain is forecast overnight and some clouds could roll in before the end of this game, conditions in Wellington should remain clear – albeit humid – during the match.
NK vs WEL Pitch Condition
Basin Reserve is a batting wicket and a score of 180 at a minimum may be needed for the team batting first.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Northern Knights vs Wellington, Super Smash 2019-20...
Northern Knights Team News & Playing 11
NK Team News
Northern Knights are one of the teams most affected by New Zealand call-ups, but still have Ish Sodhi and Scott Kuggeleijn available. They could be unchanged having beaten Wellington last time out.
NK Key Players
Daryl Mitchell: The all-rounder hit 58 last time out to help Northern Districts to victory and has now scored 28*, 39 and 58 in his last three innings. He also has seven wickets in the tournament.
Ish Sodhi: The leg-spinner got back to his best form when he claimed 3-12 last time out, taking him to seven wickets in the tournament so far. In his T20 career he has now taken 161 in 139 innings.
Anton Devcich: Capable of some big hitting at the top of the order, the experienced all-rounder has not hit top form so far but a T20 strike rate of 130.06 and a total of 18 half-centuries in the format highlight what he can do.
NK Team Form
Northern Knights’ win on New Year’s Day was just their second of the tournament so far, having previously lost three and suffered a no result among their first five matches. They failed to defend 179/8 as they lost to Otago Volts in their previous game, but last time out Ish Sodhi’s 3-12 helped restrict the Firebirds to 161/8. In reply, Daryl Mitchell hit a half-century and the Knights won by five wickets.
Northern Knights Predicted Playing 11
Anton Devcich, Tim Seifert (wk), Dean Brownlie (c), Daryl Mitchell, Brett Hampton, Joe Carter, Daniel Flynn, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Anurag Verma, Brett Randell
Wellington Firebirds Team News & Playing 11
WEL Team News
Wellington Firebirds were unchanged last time out and, after a strong start to the Super Smash season, they may stick with the same XI despite defeat.
WEL Key Players
Devon Conway: The South African opener has been in excellent batting form, scoring 63*, 89, 78* and 32 in his last four innings. Those last three half-centuries have taken him to 12 (alongside one century) in T20 cricket.
Jimmy Neesham: The New Zealand all-rounder has scored 167 runs so far and taken seven wickets to prove his credentials and enduring form. He now averages 25.63 with the bat in T20 cricket and exactly 25 with the ball, giving him the desired all-rounder’s ratio.
Ollie Newton: His five-wicket haul against Central Districts is pat of his 12 wickets in six matches so far this season – including two apiece in each of the last two games too.
WEL Team Form
Wellington Firebirds won four of their first five matches, including their most recent win - Devon Conway hitting a third consecutive half-century as he posted 78* in a seven-wicket victory (chasing 134) against Auckland Aces.
Last time out, Conway top-scored again with 32 from 23 balls but their total of 161/8 against Northern Knights proved below par. Two more wickets for in-form Ollie Newton could not prevent a five-wicket defeat with an over to spare.
Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing 11
Devon Conway (wk), Michael Pollard, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell (c), Jimmy Neesham, Fraser Colson, Jamie Gibson, Malcolm Nofal, Logan van Beek, Ollie Newton, Hamish Bennett
Northern Knights vs Wellington Firebirds Head to Head
Northern Knights’ win last time out was their fourth in a row in this fixture and 16th in T20 cricket against Wellington Firebirds. The Firebirds have won 11 times. Last time they met at Basin Reserve, the Knights posted 157/7 and restricted the Firebirds to 145/6. On New Year’s Day, meanwhile, Ish Sodhi and Brett Randell each took three wickets as the Firebirds set 161/8, and Daryl Mitchell’s half-century ensured the Knights got home with an over to spare.
NK vs WEL Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
NK Won |
WEL Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 27 |
16 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Northern Knights vs Wellington Firebirds Betting Odds
Wellington Firebirds might have lost to the Knights on New Year’s Day but they are favourites for this re-match.
NK Bet365 Odds
- NK to Win the Match: Northern Knights are 2.10 outsiders to win with Bet365.
- NK Top Batsman: Tim Seifert is 3.75 to be Northern Knights’ top batsman and opening partner Anton Devcich is 4.33. Daryl Mitchell, after his half-century last time out, can be backed at 6.00 with Bet365.
- NK Top Bowler: Brett Randell and Ish Sodhi each took three wickets last time out and they are both 4.00 with Bet365 to be the Knights’ top team bowler again with Bet365. Scott Kuggeleijn is 4.33 and Daryl Mitchell can be backed at 4.50.
WEL Bet365 Odds
- WEL to Win the Match: Wellington Firebirds are 1.72 favourites to bounce back with a win with Bet365.
- WEL Top Batsman: Danushka Gunathilaka ended the ODI series with a century and started this one with a half-century. The opening batsman is 4.33 to be Sri Lanka’s top batsman with Bet365. Bhanuka Rajapaksa is 4.50 after his brilliant innings last time out. Avishka Fernando can be backed at 5.50, meanwhile and captain Dasun Shanaka is 7.50.
- WEL Top Bowler: Nuwan Pradeep remains 4.50 to be Sri Lanka’s top bowler with Bet365 despite taking seven wickets in two games so far. Isuru Udana has five in two matches, and he is 4.00 favourite to be Sri Lanka’s top bowler with Bet365. Lakshan Sandakan is 4.33, while Wanidu Hasaranga is the same price after taking three wickets in an over last time out.
🏆 Northern Knights vs Wellington Firebirds Prediction
Wellington Firebirds are out for revenge after defeat last time out but their good form so far this season means they look perfectly capable on paper of achieving that.
Jan 03, 2020
08:40 IST / 3:10 GMT
Basin Reserve - Wellington, New Zealand
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