Fresh off a convincing, bonus point Ford Trophy victory against Northern Districts at Pukekura Park yesterday, the Central Stags have named the same squad of 13 for tomorrow’s big Dream11 Super Smash clash with the Wellington Firebirds.

That means a potential T20 Domestic debut for tall left-hand Manawatu batsman MASON HUGHES, and a new wicketkeeper behind the stumps this season - with regular keeper-batsman DANE CLEAVER remaining at home on paternity.

The Stags have strong reserves of experienced keepers and will confirm whether MA'ARA AVE, who debuted in the last T20 against the Kings, or BAYLEY WIGGINS takes the gloves tomorrow. 

Leg-spinning batsman BRAD SCHMULIAN is also in line to play first first T20 of the season.

The Central Hinds have also made changes, spinning allrounders OCEAN BARTLETT and ASHTUTI KUMAR both away at this week’s Gillette Venus NZC Under 19 Women’s National Tournament in Lincoln.

Uncapped in T20s, young Hawke’s Bay batter CATE PEDERSEN comes back into the Hinds after having first been named in the T20 squad for Napier earlier this summer, along with Wairarapa’s GEMMA SIMS who debuted in this format for the Hinds last season.

The women’s match against undefeated Wellington Blaze begins at 10.10am before the Stags-Firebirds clash at 1.40pm.

Spectators are strongly encouraged to arrive in plenty of time to avoid queuing, and to download tickets in advance from cdcricket.co.nz before heading along to the ground.

This is Central’s final home doubleheader of the Super Smash season, with two away doubleheaders in Mount Maunganui and Auckland to come in the regular season.

DREAM11 SUPER SMASH

Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

From 10.10am Saturday, 8 January 2022

v Wellington Blaze & Firebirds

Jess Watkin – captain — Manawatu

Natalie Dodd — vice-captain, wicketkeeper — Taranaki

Georgia Atkinson — Manawatu

Emily Cunningham — Taranaki

Kate Gaging — Nelson

Claudia Green — Nelson

Mikaela Greig — Manawatu

Melissa Hansen — Wairarapa

Cate Pedersen — Hawke’s Bay

Rosemary Mair — Hawke’s Bay

Monique Rees — Nelson

Hannah Rowe — Manawatu

Gemma Sims — Wairarapa

Coach — Jamie Watkins

Tom Bruce – captain — Taranaki

Ma’ara Ave — Manawatu

Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Joey Field — Hawke’s Bay

Mason Hughes — Manawatu

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Brad Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

Ben Smith — Whanganui

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Bayley Wiggins —Hawke’s Bay

Coach — Rob Walter

Unavailable Contracted Stags

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS Test squad

Will Young — BLACKCAPS Test squad

Adam Milne — injury (knee)

Ben Wheeler — injury (elbow)

Greg Hay — injury (thumb)

Dane Cleaver — paternity

Also: Christian Leopard (quad)

Hinds not considered for selection

Kerry Tomlinson — CD WU19 assistant coach and manager

Ocean Bartlett — CD WU19

Ashtuti Kumar — CD WU19

Website, schedule, points, livescores:  cdcricket.co.nz

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Article added: Friday 07 January 2022