Super Smash Predictions & Betting Tips

Incepted in 2005-06, Burger King Super Smash - the most popular and entertaining twenty20 domestic tournament of New Zealand - returns for its 14th edition. The tournament was previously sponsored by State Twenty20, HRV Twenty20, Georgie Pie and McDonald's.

Just like the past editions, there will be six participating teams who will play each other in a double round-robin format. This means that each team will face every other team twice before the top three teams are determined who will then advance to the knockout stage comprising of a 'Preliminary Final' and the final. At the end of the league stage, the top-ranked team will automatically make its place in the final while the second and third positioned teams will battle it out in the Preliminary Final to book the second spot in the final. The Burger King Super Smash 2018/19 will run from 22nd December 2018 till 17th February 2019.

Read on for team previews, betting odds, betting tips and predictions for Super Smash 2018/19.....

Super Smash 2018/19 Matches Schedule & Fixtures

Super Smash 2018/19 Team Previews & Betting Odds

Auckland Aces Preview & Odds

Team Preview

Having won the title four times and finishing runners-up on three occasions, Auckland Aces are the most successful team of the Super Smash. They finished second on the points table last season with five wins and three losses and lost to Central Stags in the Preliminary Final. The Aces last won the tournament in 2015-16 when they beat Otago Volts in the final.

Key Players

Auckland Aces will rely mainly on Colin Munro, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Craig Cachopa when it comes to batting. Mitchell McClenaghan, Sam Curran, Ben Lister and Tarun Nethula will form the main threat with the ball.

Auckland Aces Squad

Craig Cachopa (c), Michael Barry, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Danru Ferns, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Ben Horne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt McEwan, Colin Munro, Tarun Nethula, Robbie O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Sam Curran, Graeme Beghin, Ben Lister, Teja Nidamanuru, Aniket Parikh

Auckland Aces Betting Odds

Betway is offering odds of 5 on Auckland Aces to win the Super Smash 2018/19.

Otago Volts Preview & Odds

Team Preview

Otago Volts are two-time champions and three-time runners-up of the Super Smash. They had a disappointing last season as they finished at the bottom of the league standings with seven defeats and just two wins from their ten matches. They went down to Auckland Aces in the final game of the league round.

Key Players

Otago Volts will look to the likes of Rob Nicol, Hamish Rutherford and Shawn Hicks to score runs for them in the tournament. Matthew Bacon, Jacob Duffy and Warren Barnes were their best bowlers last year and they will be counting on them to bowl well again.

Otago Volts Squad

Rob Nicol (c), Matthew Bacon, Michael Rippon, Warren Barnes, Jack Hunter, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Shawn Hicks, Anaru Kitchen, James Neesham, Hamish Rutherford, Josh Finnie, Brad Wilson

Otago Volts Betting Odds

Otago Volts are the underdogs to win the Super Smash 2018/19 at odds of 8.50 on Betway.

Central Stags Preview & Odds

Team Preview

Central Stags won the tournament first in 2007-08 when they beat the Knights in the final and then in 2009-10 when they thrashed Auckland Aces in the title clash. They made it through to the playoffs in the previous season, finishing third on the points table. They even reached the final but could not overcome the Knights and finished as runners-up.

Key Players

While Will Young, Jesse Ryder, Tom Bruce and George Worker will be the key men with the bat for Central Stags this season, Seth Rance, Blair Tickner and Ajaz Patel will be the ones to watch out for with the ball.

Central Stags Squad

Will Young (c), Dane Cleaver, Adam Milne, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Josh Clarkson, Tom Bruce, Jesse Ryder, George Worker

Central Stags Betting Odds

Central Stags are being offered at odds of 5 on Betway to win the Super Smash 2018/19.

Canterbury Kings Preview & Odds

Team Preview

Canterbury Kings are the only team to have won the tournament just once. They won the inaugural edition of the Super Smash in 2005-06 under the name of Canterbury Wizards, beating Auckland Aces in the final at the Eden Park Outer Oval. Last year, the Kings missed out on the playoffs spot as they ended up behind Central Stags on the fourth place in the league standings.

Key Players

Cam Fletcher scored the most runs for Canterbury Kings last term and he along with Chad Bowes, Michael Pollard and Tom Latham will be their biggest hopes with the bat. Ben Stokes, Todd Astle, Cole McConchie and Matt Henry seem to be the main weapons in the team's bowling attack.

Canterbury Kings Squad

Andrew Ellis (c), Todd Astle, Cam Fletcher, Leo Carter, Ben Stokes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Jeremy Benton, Chad Bowes, Nick Kwant, Michael Pollard, Tom Latham, Ken McClure, Ed Nuttall, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Henry Shipley, Will Williams

Canterbury Kings Betting Odds

Canterbury Kings have been priced at 5.50 on Betway to win the Super Smash 2018/19.

Knights Preview & Odds

Team Preview

The Knights went all the way last year to clinch their second Super Smash title. They topped the league standings with seven wins and two losses from their ten matches. They then knocked out Auckland Aces in the Preliminary Final before securing a nine-wicket win over Central Stags in the final. The Knights also won the tournament in 2013-14 when they beat Otago Volts in the final at Hamilton.

Key Players

The Knights will have their hopes pinned on Anton Devcich, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Dean Brownlie when it comes to batting. Chris Jordan, Brent Arnel, Scott Kuggeleijn and Brett Randell will be the team's best bets with the ball.

Knights Squad

Dean Brownlie (c), Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Daniel Flynn, Bharat Popli, Nicholas Frederick Kelly, James Baker, Brent Arnel, Anton Devcich, Zak Gibson, Brett Randell, Joe Walker, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Chris Jordan

Knights Betting Odds

Knights are the favorites to win the Super Smash 2018/19 at very short odds of 3.75 on Betway.

Wellington Firebirds Preview & Odds

Team Preview

Wellington Firebirds are winners of the 2014-15 and 2016-17 editions. They came runners-up in 2012-13 when they lost to Otago Volts in the final at Dunedin. They failed to make it past the league stage in the previous season, finishing fifth on the points table with just three wins from ten matches. The Firebirds had a poor ending to their campaign as they lost their final three encounters.

Key Players

Wellington Firebirds have a strong batting line-up with Hamish Marshall, Tom Blundell, Luke Ronchi and Devon Conway being the heavy hitters. Jeetan Patel, Anurag Verma, Jade Dernbach and Luke Woodcock are the ones who are expected to have a good tournament with the ball.

Wellington Firebirds Squad

Hamish Bennett (c), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Hamish Marshall, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Malcolm Nofal, Matt Taylor, Logan van Beek, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband, Brent Arnel, Michael Papps, Tom Blundell, Fraser Colson, Jade Dernbach, Evan Gulbis, Matt McEwan, Ollie Newton, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Luke Ronchi

Wellington Firebirds Betting Odds

Wellington Firebirds are currently being offered at odds of 5.50 on Betway to win the Super Smash 2018/19.

Our Prediction: Who Will Win Super Smash 2018/19?

The Knights are coming into the tournament as the defending champions and will start off as one of the favorites to win this time as well. Canterbury Kings failed to make it past the league round last term but we expect them to finish in the top three this season. Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags seem to be strong batting outfits but it is their bowling attack that could let them down this year. Otago Volts finished at the bottom of the pool last season and with the limited resources they have, it will not be easy for them to reach the Preliminary Final.

Auckland Aces have been the most consistent team in the history of the tournament. They have a better balanced squad and with players like Mark Chapman, Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin Munro and Sam Curran on their roster, they will be the biggest threat to the other teams in the competition. Although the Knights and Kings are also top contenders for the title, we expect the Aces to play hard and win their fifth Super Smash title.

Final Verdict: Back Auckland Aces to win the Super Smash 2018/19 at 5 on Betway.