Who will win Wellington vs Auckland, Super Smash 2020?
Wellington Firebirds will look to move into the Super Smash 2019-20 with some momentum behind them as they look to get back to winning ways in their final game against Auckland Aces. The match takes place on January 12 at Wellington’s Basin Reserve and the live action starts at 16:10 local time.
The Firebirds lost to Canterbury Kings last time out, losing five wickets in the final 15 balls as they suffered a three-run defeat. They had otherwise been in excellent form, with six wins so far, and with Devon Conway in fine form they will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways.
Auckland Aces, on the other hand, could not make it three wins in a row last time out – failing to defend 170/7 against bottom-of-the-league Northern Knights. It halted their charge towards getting into play-off contention.
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 have lost the toss in each of their last two matches and will be keen to bat first at Basin Reserve this time out.
WEL vs AUK Weather Report
A windy, cloudy, humid day awaits in Wellington. The chance of rain is relatively low until much later in the evening, however.
WEL vs AUK Pitch Condition
Basin Reserve tends to favour teams batting first, as was the case again last time out – albeit in much more dramatic circumstances.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Wellington vs Auckland, Super Smash 2020...
Wellington Firebirds Team News & Playing 11
WEL Team News
Lauchie Johns kept wicket last time out after replacing Jimmy Neesham in the starting XI but the Firebirds could be back to full strength as they look to build momentum.
WEL Key Players
Devon Conway: Followed up his century against Otago Volts with 52 from 39 balls last time out. The South African opener now has 425 runs in this season’s competition, including four half-centuries and his unbeaten 101.
Michael Pollard: Overshadowed by his opening partner’s form, but he does have three half-centuries to his name this season too.
Ollie Newton: Wicketless last time out, but with 15 wickets to his name this season there is no doubt he has been key to the Firebirds’ success.
WEL Team Form
Wellington Firebirds have won six times this Super Smash season, most recently thrashing Otago Volts by ten wickets thanks to Devon Conway (101*) and Michael Polllard (63*). They suffered a rare defeat last time out, however, despite another Conway half-century as they pursued 149 to beat Canterbury Kings. They were on the brink of victory but five wickets in the final 15 balls, including two in the last two, saw them finish short on 145/9.
Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing 11
Devon Conway (wk), Michael Pollard, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell (c), Jimmy Neesham, Fraser Colson, Jamie Gibson, Peter Younghusband, Logan van Beek, Ollie Newton, Hamish Bennett
Auckland Aces Team News & Playing 11
AUK Team News
Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson returned for Auckland Aces last time out, though Phillips was not behind the stumps - Ben Horne kept wicket instead.
AUK Key Players
Martin Guptill: Smashed 42 in a quickfire opening partnership with Martin Guptill last time out and he now has 290 runs in the tournament. It is the fourth time he has been out in the 40s, and he also hit 83* against Canterbury Kings.
Kyle Jamieson: Returned to the team with three wickets last time out and he now has 41 in 26 T20 appearances in total.
Glenn Phillips: Back after his brief sojourn for international duty, he hit 22 last time out and will want to get back to the form he showed when he hit an unbeaten century against Otago earlier in the tournament.
AUK Team Form
Auckland Aces had won three of their last four games and two in a row – against Canterbury Kings chasing 195 and Central Stags pursuing 139 – before defeat last time out kept them short of the play-off places.
Colin Munro (44) and Martin Guptill (42) had got them off to a great start, with 90 in the first ten overs, and they finished 170/7 against Northern Knights. Kyle Jamieson and Ronnie Hira then took three wickets apiece, but they could not prevent a three-wicket defeat with an over to spare.
Auckland Aces Predicted Playing 11
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips (wk), Mark Chapman, Corey Anderson, Craig Cachopa (c), Ben Horne, Kyle Jamieson, Ronnie Hira, Benjamin Lister, Mitchell McClenaghan
Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Head to Head
Wellington won comfortably when these teams last met – Devon Conway smashing an unbeaten 78 from 54 balls as they reached 137/3 in 18.3 overs for a seven-wicket win. Auckland Aces still dominate the head-to-head, however – they have won 15 of their 28 previous meetings, including the first eight T20 matches between these two.
WEL vs AUK Head to Head Stats
Matches Played |
WEL Won |
AUK Won |
Tie |
No Result |
28 |
10 |
15 |
0 |
3 |
Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Betting Odds
While the Firebirds are flying high at the top of the table, the bookmakers are actually split – Bet365 are offering 1.90 on Wellington Firebirds to win and also 1.90 on Auckland Aces to win.
Devon Conway is in fine form and he is 3.00 to be Wellington Firebirds’ top team batsman and Michael Pollard, his in-form opening partner, can be backed at 4.33. The Auckland opening pairing of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro are 3.00 and 3.60 respectively. Glenn Phillips can be backed at 5.00.
On the bowling front, Ollie Newton is a generous 4.00 to be the Firebirds’ top team bowler with Bet365 and Hamish Bennett can be backed at 3.75. Ronnie Hira is 3.75 with Bet365 to be the Aces’ top team bowler, meanwhile, ahead of Mitchell McClenaghan at 4.00 and Ben Lister and Kyle Jamieson at 4.50.
🏆 Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces Prediction
Wellington Firebirds lost last time out but the momentum was building before that and with Devon Conway on top form they can see off Auckland Aces.
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