Canterbury Kings vs Wellington Firebirds, SS T20 2021, Today Match Prediction 26 November 2021

ck vs wf Match Prediction & Analysis

The Super Smash is back! New Zealand’s exciting domestic T20 competition is all set to begin its new season from this Friday. Last year’s finalists – Canterbury Kings and Wellington Firebirds – will face-off again in the first match of the new season. Wellington emerged as the champions the last time and would be confident of continuing their form. Canterbury, meanwhile, will have some scores to settle. Both the teams have more or less the same squads from the last season with some new additions. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Canterbury Kings Preview

Four-time champions Wellington Firebirds would be looking to become the first team in the tournament’s history to win the trophy 5 times. The defending champions have a solid set of players to do the job. Michael Bracewell will once again be leading the team and he will be looking at his strong batting unit to deliver. Devon Conway, who helped the team clinch last season’s final with a blistering 93 off 63 balls, will be sorely missed by the team as he is in India for the Test series. The roles of Finn Allen, the leading run-scorer of last season with 512 runs, and Bracewell will now be even more important. All-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who was in good touch in the recent T20 World Cup, might prove to be the MVP for the team down the order. 

Wellington’s bowling will depend primarily on fast bowlers Hamish Bennett and Logan van Beek. Both of them ended the last season with 13 wickets apiece. Neesham will of course be useful in the middle overs, but he has been pretty expensive in recent times. Experienced spinner Peter Younghusband will be looking to control the flow of runs in the middle.

Canterbury Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Finn Allen, Jakob Bhula, Andrew Fletcher, Troy Johnson, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell (c/wk), Jamie Gibson, Logan van Beek, Peter Younghusband, Hamish Bennett, Ben Sears

Canterbury Kings Actual Playing XI:

Matt Henry, Matthew Hay, Will Williams, Henry Shipley, Chad Bowes, Cameron Fletcher, Ken McClure, Blake Coburn, Cole McConchie, Ed Nuttall, Jack Boyle

Wellington Firebirds Preview

Canterbury Kings have now finished as the runners-up three times in the tournament while having won the trophy just once. They have almost always played well throughout the season but are botching it up in the final stage. Will their fortunes change this time?

Captain Cole McConchie has been one of the team’s batting mainstays and he will be eager to make an impact right away. Daryl Mitchell was the team’s highest scorer last season with 374 runs and he will be the most important batsman for Canterbury at the No.3 position. Then there’s Cam Fletcher who turned a few games around for the Kings down the order last season with his big hitting.

On the bowling front, Canterbury will be banking on Matt Henry who led the bowling charts with 14 wickets. His opening with Ed Nuttall will be crucial for the team’s chances. Todd Astle, with his leg-spin bowling, has been terrific for the team and has been in great wicket-taking form this year.

Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing XI:

Chad Bowes, Ken McClure, Daryl Mitchell, Cole McConchie (c), Leo Carter, Cam Fletcher (wk), Matt Henry, Henry Shipley, Todd Astle, Will Williams, Ed Nuttall

Wellington Firebirds Actual Playing XI:

Hamish Bennett, Nicholas Greenwood, Logan van Beek, Nathan Smith, Finn Allen, Jamie Gibson, Peter Younghusband, Michael Bracewell, Ben Sears, Luke Georgeson, Tim Robinson

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at Christchurch is usually good for batting with enough help for the seam bowlers. It’s typically hard at the start where the ball comes on nicely and is unlikely to change much throughout the game.

The weather for the game is expected to be clear and pleasant with the maximum temperature being around the 18-degree mark.
 

Venue Details

The average score batting first at Christchurch in T20Is is 188. It’s generally been a high-scoring venue and the highest total achieved here is 214-6 by New Zealand.

Toss: To Bat

Teams bating first have had a better record at Christchurch. Moreover, this is the first game of the season and the team winning the toss would hence like to play it safe and bat first to set a big total.