Who will win Otago vs Wellington, Super Smash 2020?
Otago Volts and Wellington Firebirds, the top two teams in the 2019-20 Super Smash table, meet at Dunedin’s University Oval on January 6. The live action is scheduled to start at 16:00 local time.
The Firebirds moved top of the table when they beat Northern Knights last time out – their fifth win in seven games so far. They posted 188 and bowled the Knights out for 136 to continue their strong form so far.
Otago Volts, on the other hand, have won four and lost two – their other match was a no result. They lost to Central Stags last time out despite their good batting form having continued. The Volts posted 184/7 but lost with an over to spare. Their only other defeat was against the Firebirds, who scored 182/1 and held on to win by one run thanks to Jimmy Neesham’s superb final over.
OTG vs WEL, Super Smash 2020: Where to watch/Live streaming
Live TV: Sky Sport NZ, Radio Sport, Star Sports
Live streaming: Sky Go, Hotstar
OTG vs WEL Toss Prediction
Wellington Firebirds have won the toss and batted first in each of their last two matches – a tactic Otago Volts may adopt at Dunedin.
OTG vs WEL Weather Report
Strong winds are forecast and conditions will be cool to say the least with temperatures down at 11 degrees. Cloudy conditions overhead mean a small chance of rain too.
OTG vs WEL Pitch Condition
Dunedin’s University Oval is small by the standards of other test-match grounds and the pitch (a natural one, rather than a drop-in) combines with that to make for a batting wicket.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Otago vs Wellington, Super Smash 2020.....
Otago Volts Team News & Playing 11
OTG Team News
Otago Volts were unchanged last time out and they may stick with the same side despite defeat – though there will be question marks over the bowling after they failed to defend a big score.
OTG Key Players
Hamish Rutherford: The former Black Caps international has hit 199 runs so far in this year’s tournament, having opened with a half-century against Auckland. He has scored 37 and 41 in his last two innings.
Nick Kelly: Top-scored for the Volts with 85 when these teams last met – one of two half-centuries he has hit in this season’s tournament. He has 267 runs in total, and scored 45 in his most recent innings.
Michael Rippon: The Dutch international has taken four wickets in his last three matches and also weighed in with 23* down the order in the match against Canterbury Kings too.
OTG Team Form
Otago Volts have won four of their six matches so far, with one no result. Their most recent win was against Canterbury Kings, when Josh Finnie hammered 71* from 36 balls in a total of 190/5 and Michael Rae took 3-25 as they bowled the Volts out for 139.
They lost for just the second time last time out, however, despite posting 184/7 against Central Stags. The Stags chased it down to win by five wickets with an over to spare.
Otago Volts Predicted Playing 11
Neil Broom, Hamish Rutherford, Anaru Kitchen, Nick Kelly, Josh Finnie, Dale Phillips, Michael Rippon, Jacob Duffy (c), Travis Muller, Max Chu (wk), Michael Rae
Wellington Firebirds Team News & Playing 11
WEL Team News
Wellington Firebirds stuck with the same XI again last time out as they avenged defeat to Northern Districts and it seems unlikely there will be any changes this time out either.
WEL Key Players
Devon Conway: Fell short last time out, despite some excellent form beforehand. He hit three consecutive half-centuries at the top of the order and the South African opener has generally been key.
Jimmy Neesham: The New Zealand international hit 40* from 29 balls last time out to move to 207 runs in this year’s tournament. He then took a tidy 1-22 with the ball. Last time these teams met, meanwhile, he bowled a superb last over – including taking two wickets – to seal the Firebirds’ one-run win.
Ollie Newton: Finished with figures of 2-13 last time out to move to 14 wickets in seven games. He now has two wickets in each of his last three matches.
WEL Team Form
Wellington Firebirds got back to winning ways against Northern Knights last time out, having lost to the same team in their previous meeting. In the first match, the Firebirds hit 161/8 but fell to a five-wicket defeat with an over to spare.
They bounced back to earn their fifth win of the tournament last time out, however. Michael Pollard hit 51 in a total of 188/4, before Hamish Bennett (3-28) and Ollie Newton (2-13) helped bowl Northern Knights out for just 136 in reply.
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
Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds Head to Head
Wellington Firebirds’ thrilling one-run win when these teams last met was their ninth against Otago Volts – levelling up the head-to-head record. They each won one apiece last season, including Wellington Firebirds hitting 221/3 and the Volts reaching 210/8 in reply when they last met at the University Oval. This season, Devon Conway (63*), Michael Pollard (70) and Jimmy Neesham (47*) helped Wellington to 182/1 from their 20 overs. Neil Broom (66) and Nick Kelly (85) led the reply, however and it took a brilliant final over from Jimmy Neesham to earn the Firebirds a one-run win – taking two wickets and conceding just four runs from it.
OTG vs WEL Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
OTG Won |
WEL Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 229 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds Betting Odds
The bookmakers can not split Otago Volts and Wellington Firebirds, with both teams in good form at the top of the table. The Volts are 1.90 to win with Bet365, as are the Firebirds.
Nick Kelly and Nathan Broom led Otago’s batting when these teams last met, but both are 4.00 with Bet365 to be the Volts’ top batsman this time out, and Hamish Rutherford is favourite at 3.75. It is not as close with the Firebirds, with in-form Devon Conway available to back at 3.25 with Bet365 and Michael Pollard at 4.33.
With the ball, Jacob Duffy is 4.00 to be Otago Volts’ top team bowler with Bet365, while Michael Rippon and Michael Rae are both 4.33. For Wellington Firebirds, in-form Ollie Newton can be backed at 3.75, while Jimmy Neesham is a generous 5.50 – again both with Bet365.
🏆 Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds Prediction
Wellington Firebirds can pull clear at the top with a win, and with Devon Conway in form with the bat, Ollie Newton delivering with the ball and Jimmy Neesham doing the job with both, they have the ingredients to pull off another important win
Jan 06, 2020
08:30 IST / 3:00 GMT
University Oval - Dunedin, New Zealand
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