As November turned on a perfect evening for Georgie Pie Super Smash at both ends of the country, the home teams turned on the heat in two thoroughly entertaining clashes.
At a warm Hagley Oval, the Canterbury Kings powered to a six-wicket win over the Mondiale Auckland Aces, veteran right-hander Peter Fulton and young Cameron Fletcher piling on a thunderous 94 for the third wicket to all but seal the impressive victory, thanks largely to a show-stopping hand from Peter Fulton.
It was the highest third-wicket partnership for the Kings against the Aces, eclipsing the 78 between George Worker and Andy Ellis at Rangiora three seasons ago.
Fletcher holed out with victory in sight for a career-best 38 from 45. He had played the support role, with Fulton doing most of the attacking — the veteran whacked seven sixes in an undefeated innings of 76 from 43 deliveries.
The Aces had had a chance to erode the SBS Bank Otago Volts' lead on the table, but was behind in the game following a chaotic finish to its innings, the final tally of 133 never enough to put the Kings under any real pressure.
After having won the toss, the Aces were left ruing lost opportunities to close out their innings with more force, having melted from 121/3 to 132/9 after losing a calamitous six wickets in 17 balls to collapse. The turning point came when the two Colins – Colin de Grandhomme and Colin Munro – were dismissed in consecutive deliveries.
The Aces had had a decent launching pad thanks to Brad Cachopa (49 from 41), but the heavy-hitting de Grandhomme could not get going and was caught off the bowling of Logan van Beek for just three runs.
Then Andrew Ellis removed Munro (30 from 23) with the first ball of the next over.
If you want to put the brakes on an Auckland innings, sending the two Colins back to the dressing room is about the best way to go about it, but their departure was followed by four others in quick succession – Ellis saw to that.
The veteran medium pacer took four for 17 in a stunning display of death bowling.
A trio of run outs did not help the visitor's cause, either. Tarun Nethula had the dubious honour of being run out without facing.
If the Aces were going to defend their middling total, then they needed wickets and they needed them quickly.
Mitchell McClenaghan (three for 23) had an eventful opening over. He got hit for six first ball by Ronnie Hira, and two boundaries, but also captured Hira's wicket.
Henry Nicholls did not trouble the scorers too much either, for once, and Leo Carter perished before he could get under way. But Fulton played a masterly hand, and always appeared in control.
Teams now catch their breath for “Super Smash Sunday” on the weekend when all six sides will be in action at the same time as the race for the Finals intensifies.
The win meant the Kings leapfrogged the Devon Hotel Central Stags and the Mighty Ape Wellington Firebirds into fourth place.
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