Auckland Aces will go head-to-head with the Otago Volts on Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland. This is the 23rd match of this year’s Super Smash competition and the league stage is getting spicier with each passing game. Currently, the Aces are at the fifth position with 12 points from six played. On the other hand, for Otago, their tournament is almost done and dusted as they are left with only 2 matches. They are Currently stranded at the last position with just six points from 8 matches played.
These two teams have already met each other in the 16th match of the competition, where Auckland came on top and won the match by 8 wickets in a low scoring affair. Lockie Ferguson was the star of the match as he dented the Volts with his pace. He took 4 wickets and George Worker and Mark Chapman chipped in with their classy fifties to steer their side past the winning line.
Both Auckland and Otago come to this match after their previous losses to Canterbury and Wellington respectively. Auckland has four more matches left in the tournament and if they start winning games from here on they can still make it to the play-offs. Martin Guptill will miss out on this game due to an injury. In his absence, they have asked Ross ter Braak to chip into the squad. Mark Chapman is back in the team after he took a leave from their previous match. Lockie Ferguson is just fresh from his terrific spell of 6-34 against the Knights in the Ford Trophy and will look to continue the same against the Volts.
On the other hand, there is nothing much special about Otago as they have played poorly throughout the season. They can still look for a couple of wins and upset other teams. Michael Rippon and Dale Phillips will come back into the squad and will play against the Aces.
Can Auckland press forward and move further on in the tournament or will they get a surprise from their opponents? It should be a cracking game as both teams are looking for the win.
Match Details
Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts- 23rd Match
Date and Time: January 15, 2022, 7:10 AM IST
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Fan Code
Pitch Report
The Eden Park pitch will suit the seamers early on and as the match progresses it will offer more help for the batters. The average score batting first is around 165. Toss-winning captain likes to chase here.
Weather Conditions
According to forecasts, there will be no rain, and will be clear throughout the match.
Probable Playing XI
Auckland Aces
George Worker, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Robert O’Donnell (c), Ben Horne (wk), Graeme Beghin, Lockie Ferguson, Aditya Ashok, Ben Lister, Sean Solia, William Somerville.
Otago Volts
Hamish Rutherford (c), Dale Phillips, Neil Broom, Anaru Kitchen, Max Chu (wk), Nick Kelly, Llew Johnson, Michael Rippon, Angus McKenzie, Jacob Duffy, Jake Gibson.
CE Fantasy XI
Hamish Rutherford, Anaru Kitchen, Llew Johnson, Michael Rippon, George Worker, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Aditya Ashok, Jacob Duffy
Captain- Neil Broom
Vice-Captain- Lockie Ferguson