With the first away game of the Super Smash looming, the Auckland HEARTS will welcome back their star WHITEFERNS players after an opening loss to the Canterbury Magicians, while the ACES bank on a settled line-up doing the business again.

Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Fran Jonas and Molly Penfold all return to the HEARTS squad for their first Super Smash matches of the season.

Their experience will bolster both the batting and the bowling, who suffered an opening round loss to The Magicians despite the young side going toe-to-toe for much of the match.

Particularly heartening for the Auckland side is seeing Skye Bowden proving how much of a singular all-round talent she is by picking up 4/18 and hitting 20 runs in the opening match.

She’ll enjoy the company of the equally attacking Izzy Gaze and returning captain Maddy Green in the middle order.

Green will skipper the side for the first time since January 2019.

Despite the Blaze being one of the top domestic sides in the country for the last few years, the HEARTS will fondly recall the last time these two met in the Super Smash.

On that occasion a dogged bowling effort from the Auckland side, led by Josie Penfold’s 4/23 resulted in a 44-run win to the visitors, breaking a 19-game winning streak by the Blaze.

The first ball is at 12:30pm with live action screened live on TVNZ+ and Duke.

Unavailable due to injury: Elizabeth Buchanan, Brooke Halliday & Amberly Parr.

Auckland HEARTS vs. Wellington Blaze
Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington
24 December, 2023
12:30pm start

AS Browning
SE Bowden
P Catton
IC Gaze
ML Green (c)
AT Hucker
BG Illing
FC Jonas
CS Pedersen
JO Penfold
MM Penfold
S Shahri

The ACES, on the other hand, have named the same squad for their match against the Firebirds.

Their settled squad is unsurprising given the strength of their opening win over rivals Canterbury Kings in Auckland on Tuesday.

On that occasion their stacked top order combined to set the Kings 186 to win before regular wickets to Danru Ferns (3/30) and Ben Lister (2/18) pegged back the Canterbury batters.

Eventually Jimmy Neesham’s three-wicket over sealed the match for a 27-run win to the ACES.

One to watch will be left arm orthodox spinner Louis Delport, who enjoys himself at the Basin Reserve.

His 5 Super Smash wickets at the ground have come at an average of just 8 and an economy rate of 5.1, while his List-A stats in Wellington are equally compelling with 8 wickets at an average of 14.

Finn Allen has once again been released from the BLACKCAPS vs. Bangladesh ODI squad in order to turn out for his domestic side.

The first ball is at 4:00pm and is screening live on TVNZ+ and Duke.

Unavailable due to injury: Lockie Ferguson (returning to fitness), Simon Keene (ankle), Yahya Zeb (shoulder). Unavailable due to international commitments: Mark Chapman, Adithya Ashok.


Auckland ACES vs. Wellington Firebirds
Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington
24 December, 2023
4:00pm start

FH Allen
LJ Delport
DK Ferns
CD Fletcher (wk)
MJ Guptill
RD Harrison
BG Lister
JJ McKenzie
JDS Neesham
RR O’Donnell (c)
NS Perera
SM Solia

Article added: Saturday 23 December 2023