Canterbury Kings vs Northern Knights, Super Smash 2019-20, Today Match Prediction 12 Jan 2020

ck vs nk Match Prediction & Analysis

Canterbury will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive when they take on Northern Knights in the 28th match of Super Smash competition at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Canterbury registered a three run-win over Wellington, courtesy splendid performances from Jack Boyle, Will Williams and Henry Shipley. With this result, the side are still lying in the bottom half of the league table. Canterbury must win their last two round-robin matches in order to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

On the other hand, Northern Knights have already been eliminated from the playoff race and will be looking to end their campaign on a winning note. Captain Dean Brownlie will be pleased with his side’s performance and hoping that they can maintain their focus in this dead rubber.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Canterbury Kings Preview

Cole McConchie-led unit will need to win this game at all costs in a bid to keep their playoff hopes alive in the tournament. The side managed to pull off a huge upset and registered a narrow win over Wellington in a thriller played at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Against Wellington, Canterbury decided to win the toss and bat first on a decent batting strip. Openers Jack Boyle and Chad Bowes put on a 33-run stand for the opening wicket. Despite losing Bowes in the 4th over of the innings, Boyle played positively and kept the scoreboard ticking for Canterbury.

Jack Boyle was the standout performer for the side against Wellington. He put on crucial partnerships with Chad Bowes and Stephen Murdoch to see Canterbury get off to a steady start. He finished the innings with the top-score of 46 runs off 38 balls with the help of four fours and one six.

Captain Cole McConchie also contributed well to the team’s cause and chipped in with 18 runs off 21 balls with the help of one four. Cam Fletcher, Andrew Ellis and Will Williams produced crucial runs to help Canterbury post 148 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. In the bowling department, the likes of Henry Shipley, Cole McConchie and Ed Nuttall delivered splendid bowling performances against Wellington. Henry Shipley claimed two wickets and conceded 24 runs from his four overs. Surprisingly, Part-time bowler Will Williams was the pick of the bowlers for Canterbury and picked up five wickets in a space of two overs to see his side pull off a heist.

Canterbury Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Chad Bowes, Jack Boyle, Stephen Murdoch, Cole McConchie (c), Leo Carter, Cam Fletcher (wk), Andrew Ellis, Henry Shipley, Sean Davey, Will Williams, Ed Nuttall

Canterbury Kings Actual Playing XI:

Will Williams, Stephen Murdoch, TD Astle, Cole McConchie, Ed Nuttall, Cameron Fletcher, Andrew Ellis, Henry Burton Shipley, Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Jack Boyle

Northern Knights Preview

The franchise will be looking to earn a consolation win in their final round-robin game against Canterbury. In the previous game, Northern Knights managed to beat Auckland by three wickets, courtesy splendid performances from Anton Devcich, Scott Kuggeleijn and Anurag Verma.

Against Auckland, Northern Knights decided to bowl first and put runs on the board. Experienced openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro got the side off to an excellent start. The opening pair put on a 90-run partnership in the first 10 overs. Northern Knights managed to pull things back in the game and conceded only 68 runs in the last nine overs, courtesy splendid bowling effort from Scott Kuggeleijn, Anurag Verma and Ish Sodhi. Chasing 171 runs to win, openers Anton Devcich and Tim Siefert got the side off to an excellent start and added 74 runs in the first six overs. Batting all-rounder Anton Devcich found form with the bat and delivered a crucial half-century to keep the scoreboard ticking for Northern Knights.

He played and finished the innings with the top-score of 51 runs off 23 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Tim Siefert, who produced 21 runs off 17 balls with the help of four boundaries. In this year’s competition, the side has looked reliant on the likes of Devcich and Siefert to do the bulk of the scoring. Devcich and Siefert perished in quick succession to see Northern Knights failed to up the rate scoring in their innings.

Daniel Flynn, Peter Bodock and Scott Kuggeleijn delivered crucial cameos to see Northern Knights complete a comfortable win over Auckland. Scott Kuggeleijn bowled well and finished with figures of 1 for 30 in his four overs. With the bat, he chipped in with an unbeaten 21 runs off 16 balls with the help of two sixes. Medium-pacer Anurag Verma was the pick of the bowlers for Northern Knights and claimed figures of 3 for 35 in his four overs.

Northern Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Tim Seifert (wk), Anton Devcich, Dean Brownlie (c), Brett Hampton, Daniel Flynn, Daryl Mitchell, Peter Bocock, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Anurag Verma, Brett Randell

Northern Knights Actual Playing XI:

Peter Bocock, Brett Randell, Ish Sodhi, Anurag Verma, Tim Seifert, Scott Kuggeleijn, Anton Devcich, Brett Hampton, Dean Brownlie, Daryl Mitchell, Daniel Flynn

Weather Conditions

Traditionally, the pitch at Mount Maunganui is expected to be fully of runs for the batsmen. With short boundaries, expect a high-scoring affair between the two teams. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Saturday is going be sunny with gentle winds.

Venue Details

Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will host the game between Canterbury and Northern Knights. In the previous meeting between the two teams, Canterbury comfortably brushed aside Northern Knights in a game played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Toss: To Bat

The side that wins the toss would be looking to bat first and put runs on the board. Average score at the venue is around 170 to 180 runs.