As the 2019/20 Super Smash reaches the business end of the tournament, we have a high-quality clash in Match 23 as the two table toppers play in Dunedin. Wellington Firebirds have managed to secure 5 wins in their 7 games this season so far which has them sitting pretty at the top of the 2019/20 Super Smash points table. Now, they play the next best team of the tournament so far.
We’re talking about Otago Volts who have 4 wins in 7 games thus far, and they could very well catapult to the top of the points table if they manage to beat Wellington today. Firebirds won a nail-biting encounter the last time these two sides played earlier this season. Keep reading for our Howzat (sign-up with code “READ1234”) fantasy preview of the OTG vs WEL game…
Match info
- Tournament: Super Smash 2019-20.
- Date: 6th January 2020, 8:30am IST.
- Venue: University Oval, Dunedin.
- Capacity: 3,500+
- Series status: Match 23 of the round robin stage.
Form (recent first)
- OTG: L W W L W
- WEL: W L W W W
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Numbers
- Last 5 games head to head, Wellington leads 3-1.
- In the reverse fixture this season, Wellington won by 1 run.
- Last 7 games this tournament – 6 have been won batting second.
- Neil Broom – 112 and 66 in last 2 List A games before this season.
- Ollie Newton – 21 wickets in last 10 professional games.
Otago Volts
The side is begin captained by 25-year old Jacob Duffy who has been consistently among the wickets, picking 7 in all, going wicketless in just one game so far. Nathan Smith will be high on fantasy points with 9 wickets in 5 games, but I’ll skip him since most of them came in a game where he picked a 5-fer. Instead, pick left-arm spinner Michael Rippon who has 6 scalps in 7 games, most being wickets at crucial times.
With the bat, they have a couple of stars this season. Nick Kelly and Neil Broom have been impeccable with 267 and 253 runs respectively in this tournament, with 2 fifties each. Broom is a must have because of more experience, including international exposure. With 199 runs in 7 games, Hamish Rutherford is also a good pick with international experience. I’d pick Rutherford and Broom if I could only have 2 batsmen.
Wellington Firebirds
First pick in my Howzat (sign-up with code “READ1234”) fantasy team from Wellington would be Ollie Newton who has been outstanding with 14 wickets in 7 games. He has been consistent and hasn’t gone wicketless in even one of his last 10 professional outings. With 8 wickets and 207 runs in 7 games, James Neesham is another brilliant fantasy pick, probably even as captain or vice-captain because of all-round abilities.
After 32* in the opening game, captain Michael Bracewell has struggled this season and there won’t be many fantasy sides picking him. Remember, he had 2 fifties in his last 3 List A games for Wellington before this season, so he can’t be completely out of form. Wicket-keeper batsman Devon Conway has 3 fifties in 7 games and a total of 273 runs in 7 games, so he can’t be left out for sure.
OTG vs WEL Betting
Super Smash 2019/20: Volts v Firebirds
Bet on BetWinner: https://t.co/xED7victep
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— Read Scoops (@ReadScoops) January 5, 2020