Northern Knights vs Otago Volts, Super Smash 2020-21, Today Match Prediction 02 Jan 2021

nk vs ov Match Prediction & Analysis

The points table has already started taking shape on Super Smash 2020-21. In this context the 8th game between the Northern Knights and the Otago Volts would be a very important one for both the sides. The Volts come here having lost the last game against the Canterbury Kings by a big margin. Northern Knights have lost both their games and went down against the Wellington Firebirds in the last game. 

Northern Knights have had a very poor record against the Otago Volts and have defeated them only once in the last two seasons. Their bowling attack is struggling at the moment and this would add to the pressure on the side going into this contest. Otago Volts also have had their issues with the ball. All these set up for an interesting contest where both the sides would be eager to register a win. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Northern Knights Preview

Anton Devcich has a tough task on hand as he leads his side in the third game of the tournament. They have lost both their games so far and a suffered a crashing defeat at the hands of the Wellington Firebirds where they went down by 9 wickets. Their bowling attack has looked toothless in both the games Devcich would be hoping to see his players pull up a better show in this game. 

Tim Seifert did well in the last game but he would require good support from his fellow opener Katene Clarke who has missed out in both games. Devcich is in good form but the side would require Dean Brownlie and henry Cooper to do well in the middle order as these two players have been throwing away their wicket. Down the order Brett Hampton and Scott Kuggeleijn did play well in the last game and the same would be expected of them here. 

Bowling wise the side has struggled in both the games so far. Frederick Walker and Kuggeleijn did bowl well in the last game but there was hardly any support from the other bowlers. Brett Randell, Zak Gibson and Joe Walker will have to bowl tight lines for the side to avoid third consecutive defeat in the season. 

Northern Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Anton Devcich (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Katene Clarke, Dean Brownlie, Henry Cooper, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Zak Gibson, Joe Walker, Brett Randell, Frederick Walker

Northern Knights Actual Playing XI:

Matthew Fisher, Anton Devcich, Dean Brownlie, Brett Hampton, Henry Cooper, Zak Gibson, Tim Seifert, Scott Kuggeleijn, Joe Walker, Katene Clarke, FL Walker

Otago Volts Preview

It was a poor loss for Jacob Duffy’s team in the last game against the Canterbury Kings. Their bowling attack allowed the game to slip away and the batsmen weren’t up to the challenge losing the game by 61 after they got bowled out for 124 runs. Duffy would want his side to take inspiration from their good record against the Knights and move up on the points table with a win here. 

Openers Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom are in good form with the bat and they would look to make big scores out of their starts. The middle order looks rock solid for now with Nick Kelly, Llew Johnson and Mitch Renwick having scored runs already in the tournament. They would expect big hitting from the likes of Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rippon and Josh Finnie in this game. 

Jacob Duffy and Mitchell McClenaghan bring in lot of experience to this attack and they have bowled well so far this season. The same would be expected of them with the new ball. Rippon also bowled well in the last game and this would add to his confidence. However, the side would expect better show with the ball from Kitchen, Matthew Bacon and Finnie who have been leaking runs. 

Otago Volts Predicted Playing XI:

Jacob Duffy (c), Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Nick Kelly, Mitch Renwick (wk), Llew Johnson, Anaru Kitchen, Josh Finnie, Michael Rippon, Matthew Bacon, Mitchell McClenaghan

Otago Volts Actual Playing XI:

Mitchell Renwick, Jacob Duffy, Neil Broom, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nick Kelly, Anaru Kitchen, Llew Johnson, Michael Rippon, Matthew Bacon, Hamish Rutherford, Dale Phillips

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies over Mount Maunganui are likely to open up on January 02 and there might be a rain disruption during the game. The pitch would be a difficult one to bat on where the ball is expected to bounce and move. The side that bats first in the game should be happy to put up a score of 160 runs or more.

Venue Details

Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui as a venue has always had lot of assistance for the fast bowlers as the conditions here offer lot of seam and swing to the bowlers. But the smaller dimensions of the venue also allow batsmen to play their strokes easily. There is grass on the track and this makes it a very challenging place to bowl for the spinners.

Toss: To Bowl

The track here is slow and this doesn’t allow the batsmen to get going with their strokes. There is early assistance for the bowlers at this venue and batting gets easier as the game goes on. Hence, the side winning the toss in this game shouldn’t have any hesitation in inviting the opponents to bat first.