Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts, Super Smash 2020-21, Today Match Prediction 01 Feb 2021

auc vs ov Match Prediction & Analysis

Auckland Aces would look to play for their pride in the final stages of Super Smash 2020-21 as they take on the Otago Volts in the 27th game of the season at their home ground. The hosts come into this game after a loss to the Northern Knights where their bowlers let the side down. The Volts to suffered a big loss against the Canterbury Kings and shall be looking to make amends here. 

Both the sides have been in poor form right through the season and have lost all hopes of making it to the elimination round. Otago Volts had defeated the Aces earlier in the season and the side would like to draw confidence from that win. It will be a battle for pride between the two sides and it remains to be seen which of the camps walks out of the park victorious.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Auckland Aces Preview

Nothing has worked for Robert O’Donnell’s this season as they have moved from one loss to another. The team currently sits at the bottom of the points table with just one win to talk about. They went down against the Northern Knights in the last game by 3 wickets. The side has to play for pride here and shall be looking for a win. 

Martin Guptill and Sean Solia must provide a solid opening stand as they have failed in most games. Glenn Phillips too needs to fire as he comes here with a string of bad performances. Mark Chapman, Robert O’Donnell and Ben Horne played well in the last game and they will have to retain their form here. With Kyle Jamieson bringing in good hitting abilities they have a strong batting line-up. 

It is their bowling attack that has looked in poor shape right through the season and the side would be expecting tighter spells from Louis Delport and Jamieson in this game. Ross ter Braak and Danru Ferns did well in the last game with the ball and they will need to retain their form. William Somerville and Phillips add to the bowling options for the side.

Auckland Aces Predicted Playing XI:

Robert O’Donnell (c), Sean Solia, Martin Guptill, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Ben Horne (wk), Kyle Jamieson, William Somerville, Danru Ferns, Louis Delport, Ross ter Braak

Auckland Aces Actual Playing XI:

Sean Solia, Ben Horne, Mark Chapman, Robert O'Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Danru Ferns, William O'Donnell, William Somerville, Ross Ter Braak, Kyle Jamieson, Louis Delport

Otago Volts Preview

It was another poor performance with the ball for Jacob Duffy’s team in the last game that saw them go down against the Canterbury Kings by 6 wickets. Their bowlers have struggled in most of the games and they will need to come up with e better show here. Duffy would want his side to draw confidence from their previous win against the Auckland Aces. 

Openers Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom have looked in good form and they need to offer the side with a good start. Josh Finnie, Nick Kelly and Anaru Kitchen will have to play a solid hand in the middle order during the game. Dale Phillips and Michael Rippon have good stroke making abilities and need to fire down the order. 

Duffy and Mitchell McClenaghan did well in the last game and they will have to strike early in the game. Michael Rippon also bowled tight lines in the last game and he will have to continue with the same show. Nathan Smith and Kitchen have been expensive in most games and need to bowl economical spells in the game.

Otago Volts Predicted Playing XI:

Jacob Duffy (c), Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Nick Kelly, Josh Finnie, Dale Phillips, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rippon, Nathan Smith, Max Chu (wk), Mitchell McClenaghan

Otago Volts Actual Playing XI:

Michael Rippon, Jacob Duffy, Neil Broom, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan Smith, Nick Kelly, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Joshua Finnie, Max chu

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

There would be some clouds over the skies at Auckland on February 01 and this would make the ball moved around a bit in the air. The pitch is a good one to bat on where the ball comes on to the bat nicely. Batting first the side would need to have a target score of 180 runs to be able to successfully defend it.

Venue Details

Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland is one of the best run scoring venues in New Zealand and batsmen enjoy their time on this wicket where the ball comes onto the bat nicely. With the new ball the fast bowlers tend to enjoy this surface but the conditions are very difficult for the spinners who tend to go for lot of runs.

Toss: To Bat

It has been a good batting surface where we have seen lots of runs being scored. There is little for the bowlers on this track and the side batting first has an advantage. The side winning the toss in this game should have no hesitation in batting first.