We are going to Eden Park for the first time in this edition of the Super Smash as Auckland Aces take on Northern Knights in the 10th match of this season's Super Smash. Northern Knights are in the third position with six points to their name and the Aces are at the last position but they have played only one match so far, which they lost to the Knights.
Just a few days ago these two teams met in Hamilton. It was the seventh match of the Super Smash. Northern Knights won the toss, putting Auckland Aces into bat. Martin Guptill, George Worker, Mark Chapman, and Robert O'Donnell are the players who reached double figures, making significant contributions in their total of 165 as the rest of the batters got out cheaply. For the Knights, it was Scott Kuggeleijn and Joe Walker who took four wickets apiece as they restricted the Aces who were looking to go beyond 180, at one stage.
The chase wasn't straightforward either. Their top order was removed by Louis Delport and Lockie Ferguson. Then the birthday boy, Joe Carter came into the rescue for the Knights along with Colin de Grandhomme to stem a match-winning 100-run partnership. This partnership was broken by Delport who took the wicket of Grandhomme (53 off 29 balls). Carter remained unbeaten on 75 off 53 balls with his 8 fours and 2 sixes.
The game once got tensed but Chapman gave away 19 runs in the 18th over, which sealed the game for the Knights with 13 balls to spare. They won it by 4 wickets as Joe Carter was adjudged Man of the Match.
Will Northern Knights make it two in two against the Aces or will the Auckland Aces avenge their previous loss against the Knights, we have to see?
Match details
Auckland Aces vs Northern Knights - 10th Match
Date and Time: December 20, 2021, 6:10 AM IST
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Fan Code
Pitch Report
The Eden park pitch usually helps the batters but also offers a little bit of help to the seamers. Win the toss and bat first is what captains do here. The average score batting first is around 170-175.
Weather Conditions
According to the forecasts, it will be sunny and there will be no rain throughout the match.
Probable Playing XI
Auckland Aces
Martin Guptill, George Worker, Mark Chapman, Robert O’Donnell (c), Ben Horne (wk), Ben Lister, Sean Solia, Lockie Ferguson, Adithya Ashok, Louis Delport, Cole Briggs.
Northern Knights
Katene Clarke, Tim Seifert (wk), Jeet Raval (c), Joe Carter, Colin de Grandhomme, Henry Cooper, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Anurag Verma, Joe Walker.
CE Fantasy XI
Lockie Ferguson, Katene Clarke, Colin de Grandhomme, Trent Boult, Scott Kuggeleijn, Jeet Raval, Louis Delport, George Worker, Mark Chapman
Captain- Martin Guptill
Vice-Captain- Tim Seifert