WF vs AA Match Preview
The most successful batter for Wellington in the last season and over one year has been their skipper, Nick Kelly. This southpaw has scored 178 runs from his previous nine innings with an average of 19.77. Tim Robinson played a blinder in the last Super Smash match. He scored 177 runs from 6 innings with an average of 29.50. Another batter that has done well in recent matches has been Troy Johnson. In his last eight innings, he has put together 163 runs with an average of 27.16. Firebirds will look at these batters to score most of the runs this year.
The Wellington Firebirds bowling was led by Nathan Smith this year. This right-arm medium-fast bowler picked up 12 wickets from his last nine innings with an average of 18.66. He was the bowling mainstay for Wellington. Another bowler who supported Smith well last year was Peter Younghusband. He collected ten wickets from nine matches with an average of 18.10. Another right-arm medium pacer, Logan van Beek, also picked up eight wickets last year from 9 games. These will be the go-to bowlers this year as well for Wellington.
Robert O'Donnell was the most successful batter for Auckland last year. The right-handed batter scored 264 runs from nine innings with an average of 33.00. Cole Briggs was the right-handed batter who scored 180 runs in his last eight games with an average of 22.50. Sean Solia was the go-to bowler for Auckland the previous year, scoring 177 runs from his ten matches with an average of 19.66. These will be the batters Auckland will depend on to score most of the runs this year.
The most successful bowler for Auckland last year in the T20 format was Louis Delport. He collected a haul of eleven wickets from ten innings with an average of 20.63. Ben Lister was also a successful bowler last year, with ten victims from six games and an excellent average of 14.80. Sean Solia played a fantastic hand last year with both bat and ball, picking up ten victims from as many games with an average of 24.40. Auckland Aces will be looking at these bowlers to do well again this year.
Weather Report
There is a distinct possibility of getting showers during this game. The temperatures during this game will be close to 18 degrees. The humidity will also be high as a result. If the rain interrupts the game, we might have a D/L equation coming into the picture at some point.
Pitch Report
We get to see a well-balanced track at Basin Reserve in Wellington. Both batters and bowlers will find some help from the track. But batting first is a better idea in this venue as it will deteriorate later and offer the spinners assistance.
Notable stats
Tim Robinson has an excellent strike rate in recent games for Wellington.
Tim Robinson is scoring runs with a strike rate of 159.45 in his last seven matches for Wellington.
Peter Younghusband has a terrific strike rate in his last few games.
Peter Younghusband has picked up twelve wickets from his last ten games with a strike rate 15.75.
Team News
We have just started the 2023-24 season Super Smash competition. So, there are few injury worries for both sides.
WF vs AA Probable 11
WF Playing 11
- Muhammad Arslan Abbas
- Nick Greenwood
- Nick Kelly (C)
- Tim Robinson
- Jesse Tashkoff
- Logan van Beek
- Nathan Smith
- Peter Younghusband
- Callum McLachlan (Wk)
- Ian McPeake
- Michael Snedden
AA Playing 11
- Finn Allen
- Martin Guptill
- Robert O'Donnell
- James Neesham
- Ryan Harrison
- Sean Solia (C)
- Cameron Fletcher (Wk)
- Benjamin Lister
- Danru Ferns
- Louis Delport
- Nikith Perera
Dream11 Prediction
Both these teams have got off to a winning start. The Wellington inning was based on the efforts of one batsman, though. The Auckland Aces provided a more balanced performance in their win. So, we will bet with Auckland Aces to win this encounter.
Top Picks
Tim Robinson: Tim Robinson was in terrific touch in his last effort in Super Smash, hitting a brilliant hundred. You can also bet on this in-form batter to score more runs in this contest.
Nick Kelly: Nick Kelly was also in good touch in Wellington's last match with a strike rate of 134.84.
Ben Lister: Ben Lister has picked up ten wickets from his last six games with a strike rate of 12.
Robert O'Donnell: Robert O'Donnell has scored 264 runs in his last nine games with an average of 33.
WF vs AA Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: C Fletcher
Batters: M Guptill (VC), R Roux O'Donnell, F Allen, N Kelly
All-rounders: J Neesham (C), L van Beek, N Smith, P Younghusband
Bowlers: D Ferns, B Lister
