Central Districts Stags vs Wellington Firebirds, Super Smash 2018/19, Today Match Prediction 31 Dec 2018

cd vs wf Match Prediction & Analysis

Hosts Central Districts Stags will take on Wellington Firebirds in the 8th match of Super Smash competition in New Plymouth on Monday.

Going into the match, Central Districts Stags will look to make amends after losing their game against Auckland Aces played on Saturday.

On the other hand, Wellington Firebirds are reeling at the bottom of the league table with zero points from three games played. The side has failed to put in a clinical performance with bat and ball. Captain Hamish Bennett will be hoping that his side can turn things around in this game.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Central Districts Stags Preview

Captain Tom Bruce will be hoping that the side can make a strong comeback in this game. Central Districts Stags suffered a demoralizing defeat at the hands of Auckland Aces in a game played at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

In the batting department, the team will be depending heavily on Tom Bruce and Will Young to do the bulk of the scoring. George Worker is another player in the batting lineup that will need to deliver the goods with the bat after string of low scores in the first two games.

The top order crumbled once again against Auckland Aces as George Worker, Dane Cleaver and Tom Bruce perished for low scores. Certainly, Central Districts Stags need their top-order to produce the runs in this game.

In the bowling department, the onus will be once again on pacers Seth Rance and Ben Wheeler to deliver the goods upfront with the new-ball. Wheeler was best bowler on display for Central Districts Stags and picked up two wickets in the game played against Auckland Aces. Doug Bracewell also bowled a probing spell and picked up two wickets against Auckland.

Central Districts Stags Predicted Playing XI:

Tom Bruce (captain), Don Cleaver (wk), George Worker, Will Young, Doug Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Kieran-Noema Barnett, Seth Rance, Ben Wheeler, Blair Tickner, Felix Murray

Wellington Firebirds Preview

For Wellington Firebirds, it will be the case of making things right after a demoralizing one-run defeat against Otago Volts in their last match on Friday. 

In the batting department, the team will be depending on the opening pair of Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell to get them off to a good start.

The team management will also be desperate to see better from James Neesham and Tom Blundell, who have not done much with the bat in the competition. Blundell has scored only 21 runs from three matches at an average of 10.50.

The middle-order comprising of Adam Hose, Michael Pollard and James Neesham need to produce runs with the bat in this game. The team management will be concerned with the form of the middle-order that crumbled easily under pressure against Otago.

The bowling department is a big cause of concern for Wellington Firebirds in the tournament. Medium pacer James Neesham is currently leading the bowling charts for Wellington with just five wickets in two matches. 

The likes of Ollie Newton, Hamish Bennett and Luke Woodcock have been a big disappointment for the franchise this season.

Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing XI:

Hamish Bennett(captain), Tom Blundell(wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Adam Hose, James Neesham, Michael Pollard, Malcolm Nofal, Luke Woodcock, Ollie Newton, Jeetan Patel

Weather Conditions

The pitch might offer assistance to the bowlers due to overcast conditions at the venue. The weather forecast for the game is not that great. The rainy conditions might play a big role in deciding the outcome of the game.

Venue

The Pukekura Park, New Plymouth has historically has seen high-scoring games in the Super Smash competition. The bowlers might get plenty of assistance in case overcast conditions prevail at the venue.

Toss: To Bowl

Given the weather forecast for the game, the side that wins the toss will bowl first. The side batting second will have an advantage due to Duckworth-Lewis method.