Men’s lead changes for third time in three days
The turbulent lead of the men’s Dream11 Super Smash has changed hands for the third time in as many days after the Otago Volts beat the Canterbury Kings in Christchurch this afternoon, while the Otago Sparks have moved four points ahead of Wellington Blaze in the women’s section – Blaze with two more games in hand, however, and poised to strike back as early as Thursday.
The Volts have snatched the lead off the Central Stags who in turn had usurped the Auckland Aces yesterday, when the Stags thumped Northern Brave in Nelson with a 64-run win.
CENTRAL STAGS v NORTHERN BRAVE SCORECARD
Today’s five-wicket loss means the Kings are winless after three games despite plenty of talent, while last summer’s Grand Finalist the Central Hinds are now the only side still searching for a victory in the women’s competition – having handed Northern Brave a nine-wicket win to get Brave on the board at Saxton Oval.
Sri Lankan star Chamari Athapaththu (45 off 31 balls) and experienced Brave skipper Jess Watkin (51 not out off 32) combined to make short work of the chase; now the Hinds face another big challenge with a second 2024 Grand Final rematch against leader Blaze looming this Thursday at the Cello Basin Reserve.
The Stags could reclaim top spot in the capital should they take their revenge against the Firebirds and garner a third win from four games; likewise the Blaze can catch the Sparks quickly.
Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox took 3/14 and claimed a Stags record-equalling four field catches in a T20 game to help throttle Brave’s men, and said that while the Stags were firing in all departments, captain Tom Bruce was definitively leading the way.
Said Lennox, “We know he’s a quality player and I think having a little bit of a sore side, it’s kept him holding his [batting] shape a little bit better so we might need to keep him sore for a little bit longer if he’s going to perform like that!”
Bruce (132 runs from three games despite the side strain he has carried from game one) blasted an unbeaten 64* off 31 balls (five boundaries, four sixes) against Northern and an unbeaten 44* from just 19 balls in the opening round in Alexandra.
Yesterday he overtook Auckland Ace Martin Guptill as the league’s top runscorer, until Canterbury King Matt Boyle (136 runs) nudged ahead of Bruce during today’s loss at Hagley.
Boyle is one of two siblings in the top 10 batters, elder brother Jack Boyle (Central Stags) holding 10th spot.
Lennox said the Stags were looking forward to a second crack at the Firebirds on Thursday afternoon, having lost by just 11 runs chasing Wellington’s 190/5 on Saturday in Nelson.
“We would have liked to have got over the line in the last one obviously, but what we did against Northern Brave showed that we had learned a hell of a lot in the space of two days.
“We had a pretty light training in between, just rectified a few things and we’re going to keep charging forward.”
Lennox is enjoying combining with fellow Hawke’s Bay representative, slow bowler and allrounder Angus Schaw, for the Stags, Schaw backing up a career-best three-for against the Firebirds with a tight 1/14 off his four overs yesterday.
“Gus [Schaw] and I are working pretty closely with one another, and I think Tom is coming up with a formula as to how to use us best.”
Neither Schaw nor Lennox conceded a boundary in their latest win.
“Closing out a game as spinners is pretty cool.
“I know that Gus is growing in confidence so it’s kudos to him for all the work that he’s done.”
Opening batter Boyle has meanwhile come in as a third spinner — filling the role usually performed by Bruce in that department, and taking his maiden T20 wicket at Saxton with just his second delivery, Neil Wagner caught.
