Rain Spoils Men’s Super Smash Final as Auckland Wins the Title

The Men's Super Smash final has ended in a no result. Auckland takes the title on finishing first in the regular season.

Chad Bowes got the Canterbury side off to a fast start after being sent into bat by Auckland captain Robbie O’Donnell.

He struck two fours in the first over and then a six in the second over as Canterbury raced to 21 without loss.

After a tight start to the third over, Bowes Ben Lister got the wicket of the dangerous Bowes for 17 from 11 balls.

Henry Nicholls and Latham went on the attack as they took to the Auckland pace bowlers of Danru Ferns, Sean Solia, and Jock McKenzie as steered Canterbury to 55/1 after seven overs.

Louis Delport and the majority of Ryan Harrison’s first over was around the run-a-ball mark before Latham struck a couple of sixes off Harrison and Delport.

Canterbury went past the 100-run mark in the twelfth over and Latham soon had his 17th T20 50 with it being his first against Auckland.

McKenzie, a late call-up into the side as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson was able to get the breakthrough with the wicket of Nicholls for 42 from 35 with a good running back catch by Delport.

Mark Chapman was the next to roll the arm over and was sent over the rope for two sixes, one by Cole McConchie and one by Latham.

Two balls into the fifteenth over the rain arrived and stayed around for well over an hour. 

Canterbury’s innings was therefore brought to an end as they finished on 133/2 from 14.2 overs. Latham finished on 58* and McConchie on 14*.

The final was called off at 19:04 with the rain not clearing. Auckland were awarded the title as a result of finishing first on the table in the regular season.