Three home games, three big crowds, and three exciting finishes. Things couldn’t be going too much better for the Central Stags who have got off to a cracking start in this year’s Dream11 Super Smash.

After the narrowest of losses in Palmy, before bouncing back against the Kings at Pukekura, the Stags went back-to-back in New Plymouth as they put on the New Year’s Eve fireworks for another big Pukekura Park crowd the very next day.

JOSH CLARKSON and DOUG BRACEWELL pumped sixes to ensure the team chased down Northern Brave’s sizeable total of 217/9 for a crunch three-wicket win - the successful chase ranking as the Stags’ sixth-highest ever total at their New Plymouth home ground.

JOSH CLARKSON | MBUTCHER

Clarkson (above) is in the top two runscorers for the men’s Super Smash nationally this season after scores of 55, an unbeaten 46 not out and 58, the clean striker operating at his trademark high strike rate (214.38 - the highest in the league among specialist batters) and knocking it out of the park at a hefty 79.50 batting average.

The Nelson 25-year-old had solid support from Bracewell on New Year’s Eve as they escalated the strike rate to catch up with the run rate required for an exciting, last-over win.

DOUG BRACEWELL | MBUTCHER

 

Bracewell also operated at a racy 200+ strike rate as he slammed five crisp sixes in his 39 off 18 balls, depositing one across Fillis Street — building on quick 30s from both DANE CLEAVER and ROSS TAYLOR.

While the Stags were fast finishers, Northern Brave had been fast starters, Tim Seifert’s explosive 59 off 30, Katene Clarke’s 41 off 23 and captain and ex-Stag Jeet Raval’s half century (60 off 29) putting the Brave on for an ominous total.

Raval was dropped early by RAY TOOLE, but Toole kept his composure in just his third T20 to come back for a career-best 3-44, as well as holding a more challenging chance to dismiss the dangerous Brett Hampton for a duck off Tom Bruce.

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Toole put himself on an unconverted hat-trick with the handy wicket of Joe Carter and then Tim Pringle, while Bruce continued his strong summer with the ball to pocket figures of 3-35 as the Stags fought back to contain the defending champion Northerners.

Bracewell had an excellent all-round day with 2-30 off his four overs and the big wickets of Seifert and Mitch Santner, with BRETT JOHNSON in his first bat at this level and BRETT RANDELL coolly finishing off the chase in the last over after Bracewell and Clarkson’s star turns with the bat in the chase.

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After a rare tied match in Auckland pegging back both the Aces and Otago Volts (with no Super Overs until Finals time), the Stags have maintained a healthy second spot on the table as they get ready to host the still-stinging Aucklanders this Thursday, 5 January at 2.40pm.

The Central Hinds will again open the bill from 11am against the Auckland Hearts with the Hinds coming agonisingly close to a brilliant win over Northern Brave’s women on New Year’s Eve at Pukekura.

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Star HANNAH ROWE showed her all-round credentials with a tight 2-11 off her four overs at the top, including a stunning return catch to dismiss Eimear Richardson, and with fellow opener Bernadine Bezuidenhout caught behind.

A gutsy half century from Sam Barriball kept the Brave women in the game while CLAUDIA GREEN swung in for a haul of 3-23

The pair shared a key stand, with Aussie import Amanda-Jade Wellington adding a quick 34 off 26 before the Brave finished up on 146/8 in their 20 overs.

Like the Hinds, they had headed into the match still winless, and the Hinds fought to the death to try to turn that around. GEORGIA ATKINSON layed an important platform up the top with her run-a-ball 38 as the Brave chipped out some big top order wickets, including JESS WATKIN for a quick 23.

JESS WATKIN | PHOTOSPORT

Enter Rowe, who smashed three sixes en route to her maiden T20 half century off just 32 balls.

She lost a string of partners through the death at Wellington and Kayley Knight attacked, until the last ball of the match saw the Hinds needing a six to win or a boundary to tie.

Knight won the game for the Brave as she bowled Rowe with the last ball of the match, after conceding 11 off the over to go down to the last-ball thriller.

The Hinds didn’t get to mark ROSEMARY MAIR’s 50th Dream11 Super Smash match for the team nor NATALIE DODD’s 100th career T20 appearance in style, but will be fired up to make it fourth time lucky this Thursday against the Auckland Hearts, a side against whom they have had plenty of success at Pukekura Park over recent years.

Gates open at 10am, with the scheduled toss at 10.30am. With weather lurking, keep an eye on our live-scoring for start time updates should the toss be delayed.

After this week’s 5 January doubleheader, the Hinds and Stags hit the road for their first away doubleheader of the campaign, at the Cello Basin Reserve against the Wellington Blaze and Firebirds - who lead the respective tables - on 7 January from 10am.

Article added: Tuesday 03 January 2023