Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces, Super Smash 2018/19, Today Match Prediction 18 Jan 2019

wf vs auc Match Prediction & Analysis

Super Smash League has reached the halfway mark with all the teams facing each other at least once. Every match from now will make a significant change in the points table.

Hosts Wellington suffered a loss against Northern Knights after back to back wins against Canterbury and Central Districts. Wellington are led by the Experienced pace bowler Hamish Bennett. Openers Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell along with Adam Hose have been the top run scorers for them so far. Their top order has scored the bulk of runs. Tom Blundell and Michael Pollard played some crucial knocks in the middle order and improved the scoring rate at the end of the innings.  Skipper Hamish Bennett has been their bowling spearhead and is amongst the wickets column. He is well supported by Logan Van Beek, Ollie Newton and Ben Sears in the pace department. Jeetan Patel is the only spinner in the playing XI so far.  

Auckland Aces have won just a solitary match in their five matches played so far. They have been unlucky as two of their matches are abandoned without result. They have buoyed by the absence of national players such as Guptill, Munro and Ferguson. They will look to win more matches before they leave for the national duty for the series against India. Their top order Guptill, Philips and Munro have been scoring runs consistently and at a brisk rate at the start of innings.

Their middle order needs to put up more runs to support them Captain Craig Cachopa and Somerwille are only console in the middle order whereas the rest has faltered regularly.MathewQuinn and Mitchell McCleanagan are the new ball bowlers to open the attack and are bowling with excellent control and accuracy. Donovan Grobbledaar plays as their third seamer. William Somerwille and Ronnie Hira form a formidable spin duo of their bowling attack.  

TEAMS PREVIEW

Wellington Firebirds Preview

Key Players:

Adam Hose – Adam Hose has been in good form and have scored two fifties in a row in the last two matches. He will look to score more runs for the team`s cause.

Jeetan Patel – Jeetan Patel has been successful in the controlling the run rate and getting the breakthroughs in the middle overs. He is a vital part of the bowling unit being a lone spinner. 

Missing player: James Neesham

Stats from the tournament:

Michael Bracewell – 218 runs at strike rate 183 (HS – 74, 50s-3) 

Ollie Newton – 8 wickets at an economy of 7.7 RPO (BB – 3/26)

Wellington Firebirds Predicted Playing XI:

Hamish Bennett (c), Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (Wk), Adam Hose, Michael Pollard, Troy Johnson, Ollie Newton, Logan Van Beek, Jeetan Patel, Ben Sears.

Ben Sears is expected to return to the squad in place of Ian McPeake and no other changes is expected in their playing XI. 

 

Wellington Firebirds Actual Playing XI:

Hamish Bennett, Adam Hose, TA Blundell, Ollie Newton, Michael Bracewell, Jeetan Patel, Troy Johnson, Devon Conway, Logan van Beek, Ben Sears, James Neesham

Auckland Aces Preview

Key Players:

Glenn Philips – The wicketkeeper batsmen have been in a good form and he has scoring runs at a superb strike rate. His performances here may give him a chance in playing XI in the national team.

Mathew Quinn – Absence of Lockie Ferguson, Mathew Quinn needs to step up and bowl effectively with the new ball alongside McCleanagan. Quinn has bowled with good economy rate so far. 

Missing player: Lockie Ferguson  

Stats from the tournament:

Martin Guptill – 133 runs at strike rate 151 (HS – 71*, 50s-2) 

Mitchell McCleanagan – 6 wickets at an economy of 7 RPO (BB – 3/23) 

Auckland Aces Predicted Playing XI:

Craig Cachopa(C), Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Mark Chapman/James Vince, Glenn Philips (Wk), Robert O Donnell, William Somerwille, Ronnie Hira, Mitchell McCleanagan, Mathew Quinn, Donovan Grobbelaar

Mark Chapman may be dropped after his back to back ducks in last two matches he played. James Vince might replace him in the playing XI. Lockie ferguson might not play considering the bowler`s workload. 

 

Auckland Aces Actual Playing XI:

Mitchell McClenaghan, Mark Chapman, Colin Munro, Ronnie Hira, Matthew Quinn, Glenn Phillips, Robert O'Donnell, William Somerville, Donovan Grobbelaar, Craig Cachopa, Martin Guptill

Weather Conditions

 Wellington pitch has been known to good cricketing pitch with good balance between the bat and the ball. Scores in the range of 160-180 runs are tough to chase. No rain interruptions are expected during the match. The pitch will slow down in the second innings and will aid spinners in the team

Toss: WIN the toss, BAT First

Teams bating first has won all the three matches held here so far in the tournament. Chasing becomes a tougher under lights and both teams would look to bat first after winning the toss.