Who will win Wellington vs Auckland Final, Super Smash 2020?
Wellington Firebirds, who topped the Super Smash 2019-20 table, and Auckland Aces – who finished third but won through the preliminary final – meet in the 2019-20 Super Smash Final at Wellington’s Basin Reserve. The match takes place on January 19 and the live action starts at 16:10 local time.
The Firebirds were the team of the league phase, but nearly missed out on top spot after losing their two most recent matches. Their league campaign actually ended with a six-wicket defeat to the Aces at Basin Reserve, when they could not defend 165/7.
That result helped the Aces qualify for the preliminary final, and they beat Otago Volts by three wickets, with one ball to spare, after being set 175 to win. Martin Guptill led the way, scoring 43 from 31 balls at the top of the order, and the big-hitting opener will be key.
WEL vs AUK, Super Smash 2020: Where to watch/Live streaming
Live TV: Sky Sport NZ, Radio Sport, Star Sports
Live streaming: Sky Go, Hotstar
WEL vs AUK Toss Prediction
Wellington Firebirds won the toss and batted first at Basin Reserve last time out and, despite their defeat, the hosts will probably be keen to do the same again if they are given the chance.
WEL vs AUK Weather Report
Wellington will be cloudy and humidity is expected to be very high, but the chance of rain is very low.
WEL vs AUK Pitch Condition
Though it was not the case when these teams last met, the balanced Basin Reserve wicket tends to favour teams who elect to bat first.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Wellington vs Auckland Final, Super Smash 2020...
Wellington Firebirds Team News & Playing 11
WEL Team News
Jimmy Neesham missed the two final round-robin matches due to a quad injury, but any worries about his injury have been allayed by his call-up to the New Zealand A squad. Tom Blundell returned for the Firebirds in the final league game and could feature again.
WEL Key Players
Devon Conway: In excellent form throughout the group stage but the South African opener ramped things up in the final few games, hitting 101* against Otago Volts, 51 against Canterbury and 69 against the Aces – to follow the 78* he hit against them when they met in Auckland too. In total, he has 494 runs this season.
Hamish Bennett: The opener has earned a New Zealand recall after some consistent form with the ball, including eight wickets in the final four round-robin matches.
Ollie Newton: Another to have been consistent with the ball, taking his 16th wicket of this Season's tournament when these teams last met.
WEL Team Form
Wellington Firebirds topped the table but they have not won since Devon Conway’s unbeaten century led the way in a ten-wicket win against Otago Volts. Defeats to Canterbury Kings and Auckland Aces followed, nearly costing them top spot.
In the first of those losses, they lost five wickets in the final 15 balls as they finished on 145/9 chasing 149 to beat the Kings – Conway having earlier hit another half-century.
He passed 50 once again last time out, against Auckland Aces, but the Firebirds’ score of 165/7 proved to be below par as the Aces claimed a six-wicket win with two overs to spare.
Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing 11
Devon Conway, Michael Pollard, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Jimmy Neesham, Jamie Gibson, Peter Younghusband, Logan van Beek, Ollie Newton, Hamish Bennett
Auckland Aces Team News & Playing 11
AUK Team News
With Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson returning towards the end of the league phase and William Somerville playing the two most recent matches too, Auckland Aces have been unchanged for the last two games – Corey Anderson missed out, but after two wins to book their place in this final, it would be harsh to make any changes this time.
AUK Key Players
Martin Guptill: Another quick 40 last time out maintained his good form at the top of the order. He has been out in the 40s four times in the last eight innings, only passing 50 once in that time, but it provides a platform for the Aces to build from.
Kyle Jamieson: Made an immediate impact on his return to the team, taking three wickets in each of his first two matches and adding his seventh in three games last time out.
Mark Chapman: Hit an unbeaten half-century when these teams last met, having earlier claimed 2-18 with the ball, while his 2-32 in the preliminary final means he now has six wickets in his last four matches.
AUK Team Form
Auckland Aces beat Wellington Firebirds in their final league match – their fourth win in five games – to finish third in the Super Smash table and qualify for the preliminary final. Results elsewhere went the Aces way as they bounced back from defeat to Northern Knights thanks to a match-winning partnership from Craig Cachopa (66) and Mark Chapman (58*). They guided Auckland to 166/4 in 18 overs and a comfortable six-wicket win.
It set up a preliminary final against Otago Volts, and this time they were set 175 to win despite William Somerville’s excellent 3-25. Martin Guptill set the tone with 43 from 31 balls, however, and some rapid scoring from Ronnie Hira and Robert O’Donnell got them over the line with one ball and three wickets to spare.
Auckland Aces Predicted Playing 11
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Craig Cachopa (c), Robert O’Donnell, Ronnie Hira, Ben Horne (wk), Kyle Jamieson, William Somerville, Mitchell McClenaghan
Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Head to Head
Auckland Aces’ win in the final group game was their 16th in 29 previous matches against the Firebirds. Wellington had won the first match comfortably – Devon Conway hammering 78* in a seven-wicket in, as they reached 137/3 with nine balls to spare.
Another Conway half-century last time out was not enough, however. Chasing 166 to win, Mark Chapman (58*) and Craig Cachopa (65) came together at 33/3 in the fifth over, but put on 132 runs in 13.2 overs for the fourth wicket and the Aces claimed a six-wicket win.
WEL vs AUK Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
WEL Won |
AUK Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 29 |
16 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Betting Odds
After finishing the group stage in better form, and beating Wellington when they last met, Auckland Aces are favourites to win the 2019-20 Super Smash.
WEL Bet365 Odds
- WEL to Win the Match: Wellington Firebirds are 2.10 to win with Bet365.
- WEL Top Batsman: Devon Conway has been in fine form at the top of the order, including two half-centuries against the Aces. He is 3.00 to be their top team batsman with Bet365. Opening partner Michael Pollard is 4.50, while Tom Blundell came into the team last time and he can be backed at 5.00.
- WEL Top Bowler: Hamish Bennett has eight wickets in his last four matches and his performances have earned him a New Zealand recall. He is 3.75 with Bet365 to be the Firebirds’ top team bowler in the final. In-form Ollie Newton is 4.00, meanwhile.
AUK Bet365 Odds
- AUK to Win the Match: Auckland Aces are now 1.72 favourites to win the 2019-20 Super Smash with Bet365.
- AUK Top Batsman: Martin Guptill is 2.87 favourite to be Auckland Aces’ top team batsman in the final after some consistent scoring at the top of the order, while opening partner Colin Munro can be backed at 4.00 with Bet365 and Glenn Phillips is 5.00. Mark Chapman (6.00) and Craig Cachopa (9.00) were the match winners when these teams last met, however.
- AUK Top Bowler: Ronnie Hira is 3.75 favourite to be the Aces’ top bowler with Bet365, meanwhile. Mitchell McClenaghan is 4.00, but Kyle Jamieson could be a good bet. He has seven wickets in three games since his return and he is 4.50 with Bet365.
🏆 Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Prediction
Auckland Aces have built up some real momentum heading into the final, including beating the Firebirds when they last met, and that is what makes them favourites.
Jan 19, 2020
08:40 IST / 3:10 GMT
Basin Reserve - Wellington, New Zealand
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