No number one this week. Top of the order is dedicated to two international cricketers who lost their lives in the past week while enjoying the sport they loved. RIP Phillip Hughes, 63 not out forever, and umpire Hillel Oscar, former captain of Israel who represented his country from 1982 to 2006. Always in our thoughts.
Two
Bit of debate over who’s at first drop, but George Worker wins the other opening slot after it took three games to get him out at McLean Park. Unbeaten half-centuries, carrying the bat AND backing up —that would be noteworthy enough. But to do it with the style, the placement, the power, the confidence, the footwork…just great to watch.
Three
The purple destroyer. Hurricane Hira hit town with an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls. For most of his fearless innings, Hira looked like he was playing golf as the sixes got up somewhere near the flag. He blasted Bevan Small over the roof of the Lowe Stand and made the clean-striking Neil Broom look like a mere support act. Hira won the game with his seventh six, in 11.3 overs. Did we mention he bowled all right, too? With nothing but pride riding on the game, Hira made purple hearts proud for sure.
Four
The Knights’ fielding. On a weekend when other teams had the dropsies, the Knights enhanced their reputation as a sharply-drilled unit. If fielding is going to be the difference between the top teams in the Finals, the Napier games sounded a big warning. Best grab? Has to be Daryl Mitchell’s split-second reaction and launch sideways to stop a stunned Donovan Grobbelaar, caught & bowled. That ball was travelling, yet somehow Mitchell clasped a paw under it. Magnificent.
Five
Speaking of caught & bowleds, Josh Finnie. Wow. What else can you say about a 17-year-old who comes in for the Volts and sets a New Zealand record on debut? First man ever to take two caught and bowleds in a single Twenty20 in New Zealand. The first one, a miscue from Will Young, had so much snow on it that it’s surprising the ball didn’t need to be defrosted. What a dream start to a young man’s career.
Six
Luke Wright is a sought-after pro around the world and he showed why when he went into demolition mode at the top of the innings to blast 20 runs first over against the Kings. When he added another 10 in the second over, and kept up the blistering aggression until he was caught for a high-speed 38, the Aces had early advantage and powered on from there to nail their Finals spot. Wright repeated his entertaining approach against the Knights, this time for 36 off 19.
Seven
Dents in the roof. McLean Park came in for a pelting as it started raining sixes. Besides Hira’s smashing innings, there was Anaru Kitchen clearing the Lowe Stand, off Hamish Bennett. Travis Birt went the other side and put one over the Harris Stand, even bigger —carving an irreverent Ben Wheeler full toss on leg stump. It set the tone for Birt monstering it out of the park and over the long boundaries for his 69* off 44. Craig Cachopa boomed it big to bring it home against the Kings for a 196 strike rate and unbeaten 49 off 25 balls. Young Tim Seifert rocked up to first drop for the first time for the Knights and smashed two handsome straight sixes in a row against Lockie Ferguson. Honorable mentions to Dane Cleaver heaving Mitch Santner high into the stand; Will Young smashing Astle long; Neil Broom clipping a six off Nethula over cover in a highly aesthetic stand with Henry Nicholls against the Aces; and Broom timing it superbly over the square fence off Wheeler against the Stags. Making it look too easy!
Eight
Taking a four-for on your birthday —and 4-23 off four is a decent celebration. On a good weekend for spinners, Jono Boult turned 29 in style, turning on superb variations of length and picking up his best figures against the Aces.
Nine
David Meiring didn’t have the best run with the bat after he was brought into the Stags, but he pulled off the sharpest run out in Napier as he rocketed the ball side-on at the stumps to send Raold Badenhorst back for a duck. Ouch.
Ten
The Kings’ support at Hagley Oval. Fantastic crowds for every one of the Kings’ home games this season. You were loyal to the end as the Kings tried hard to defend that castle. On ya!
What The Coaches Thought
A weekend of happiness and heartbreak for the men who live every ball with their players. Check out their reactions to the last games before Finals time.
Game 24: Kings v Aces
Mark O’Donnell and his men began the round in Christchurch in the first of two big matches against the Kings, the two sides in a head-to-head battle for a Finals spot.
Watch
Game 25: Stags v Volts
The rallying Stags had to take three from three to make a late dash into the top three: they got off to an ideal start in their Friday night festival game at home in Napier.
Watch
Game 26: Aces v Kings
The Aces’ coach is mighty pleased to back up against the Kings in Napier on Super Saturday, his side into the Finals.
Watch
Game 27: Knights v Stags
A desperate charge from the Stags goes down to the wire, but it’s Knights coach Jimmy Pamment who’s in front of the camera afterwards.
Watch
Game 29: Stags v Kings
After Game 28 in Dunedin is washed out, attention returns to sunny Napier where the now out-of-contention Kings turn on one last hurrah. Gary Stead shows his disappointment but pays tribute to the purple destroyer that is Ronnie Hira who steals the show.
Watch
Game 30: Knights v Aces
Knights coach Jimmy Pamment is in good form after his team completes their regular season with a cool-headed victory over a fellow finalist.
Watch
Chart Toppers
Top run-scorers
The openers are winning.For the third week in a row, Knights skipper Daniel Flynn owns top spot after adding his third half-century of the season in Napier at the weekend. George Worker rockets up for the Stags —after it takes the other teams three games to get him out! But with the Stags out of the finals, he’s stranded in second spot, at best.
| M | I | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | |
| Daniel Flynn (Knights) | 9 | 9 | 0 | 322 | 86 | 35.77 | 0 | 3 |
| George Worker (Stags) | 10 | 9 | 2 | 318 | 78 | 45.42 | 0 | 3 |
| Neil Broom (Kings) | 10 | 10 | 1 | 297 | 96* | 33.00 | 0 | 2 |
| Ronnie Hira (Kings) | 10 | 10 | 1 | 274 | 91* | 30.44 | 0 | 2 |
| Ryan ten Doeschate | 10 | 9 | 1 | 276 | 63 | 33.37 | 0 | 1 |
Full Georgie Pie Super Smash batting stats
Top wicket-takers
Even though Andy Ellis missed the Canterbury Kings’ last games as he and his wife got ready for the birth of their child, no one’s got close to bumping him off in the wicket stakes. It was a big weekend for spinners, with Ajaz Patel, Tarun Nethula and Jono Boult all getting in the action in Napier to bust into the top five.
| Balls | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BB | Ave | 4WIs | 5WIs | SR | Econ | |
| Andy Ellis (Kings) | 172 | 0 | 215 | 18 | 5-14 | 11.94 | 1 | 1 | 9.55 | 7.50 |
| Donovan Grobbelaar (Aces) | 140 | 0 | 140 | 11 | 4-10 | 12.72 | 1 | 0 | 12.72 | 6.00 |
| Ajaz Patel (Stags) | 186 | 1 | 203 | 11 | 2-17 | 18.45 | 0 | 0 | 16.90 | 6.54 |
| Tarun Nethula (Aces) | 198 | 2 | 211 | 10 | 2-13 | 21.10 | 0 | 0 | 19.80 | 6.39 |
| Jono Boult (Knights) | 210 | 0 | 244 | 10 | 4-23 | 24.40 | 0 | 0 | 21.00 | 6.97 |
Full Georgie Pie Super Smash bowling stats
Safest Hands
Aces keeper Brad Cachopa has a whippy weekend behind the stumps to make his impression in the race for the fielding cup this season.
| Matches | Catches | Stumpings | |
| Logan van Beek (Kings) | 9 | 9 | |
| Brad Cachopa (Aces) | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Todd Astle (Kings) | 10 | 7 | |
| Donovan Grobbelaar (Aces) | 9 | 7 | |
| Michael Pollard (Firebirds) | 9 | 7 |
Full Georgie Pie Super Smash fielding stats
How The Points Table Finished
The defending champion’s consistency is reflected by pole position on the charts, but all that matters as far as teams are concerned is being in the top three. The Knights, Firebirds and Aces progressed to the Finals, while for the Kings, Stags and Volts it’s time to sit back and reflect on a season that didn’t go to plan. Rain and hail prevented the Volts from having any opportunity of signing off with a home win in Dunedin.
| Played | Won | Lost | Aban. | Points | Net Run Rate | |
| SKYCITY Northern Knights | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 0.431 |
| Mighty Ape Wellington Firebirds | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 0.233 |
| Mondiale Auckland Aces | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 0.433 |
| Canterbury Kings | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 0.538 |
| Devon Hotel Central Stags | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 14 | -0.511 |
| SBS Bank Otago Volts | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -1.127 |
Hot Stats
Keep your eye on these guys who have T20 milestones to smash in the Finals.
Mondiale Auckland Aces
Rob Nicol 50 career wickets - currently on 48 wickets
Rob Nicol 2000 career runs - currently on 1942 runs
SKYCITY Northern Knights
Graeme Aldridge 50 career matches - currently 49 matches
Graeme Aldridge 50 matches for Knights - currently 48 matches
Mighty Ape Wellington Firebirds
Grant Elliott 1000 runs for Firebirds - currently on 937 runs
Grant Elliott 50 matches for Firebirds - currently on 49 matches
Jeetan Patel 50 matches for Firebirds - currently on 49 matches
Stats Congrats
Well played to these men last week.
Mondiale Auckland Aces
Donovan Grobbelaar Best bowling - 4-11 previous best 2-5
Canterbury Kings
Hamish Bennett Best bowling - 2-11 previous best 2-18
Roneel Hira Highest career score - 53 previous best 44
Roneel Hira Highest career score - 91* previous best 53
Ben McCord Twenty20 debut
Devon Hotel Central Stags
Dane Cleaver Highest score - 35* previous best 17*
George Worker Highest score for Stags - 71* previous best 59
George Worker - Highest Score for Stags 78* previous best 71*
SKYCITY Northern Knights
Travis Birt Highest score for Knights - 69* previous best 68
Tim Seifert Highest score - 36 previous best 6*
Jono Boult Best bowling - 4-3 previous best 3-19
Anurag Verma Best bowling - 2-31 previous best 1-15
SBS Bank Otago Volts
Ryan ten Doeschate 1000 runs for Volts
Josh Finnie Twenty20 debut
Shaun Fitzgibbon Twenty20 debut
Up Next
Three huge games to decide the 2014 champions! Will Seddon Park be painted pink, gold or navy? Coverage of all games is live on Radio Sport and SKY Sport. But there’s nothing like being there for a piece of cricket history, so get around Seddon Park, Hamilton, this Friday night, Saturday night or Sunday afternoon — and bring the kids for all the off-field entertainment in Kidzone.
Friday Dec 5 SKYCITY Northern Knights v Mighty Ape Wellington Firebirds
The two form teams go head to head in the 1 versus 2 playoff at Seddon Park. The winner of this Friday-night-under-lights game goes straight through to Sunday’s Final, while the loser must beat the Aces the following night in order to join them. Both these teams made the Finals last season at this same venue, so don’t expect them to be the slightest bit fazed by stepping up to turn it on for the crowd. Should be a blast.
From 7.10pm
Social Media hashtags #GPSuperSmash, #NKvWF
Tickets
Saturday Dec 6 Mondiale Auckland Aces v opponent to be confirmed
It’s sudden death now for one of these teams in the last big game before the Final. The Aces are here by virtue of having clawed their way back up into third spot on the qualifier table: can they take down one of the top two sides? Every ball counts in this one.
From 7.10pm.
Social Media hashtags #GPSuperSmash, #AAvNK or #AAvWF
Tickets
Sunday Dec 7 2014 GEORGIE PIE SUPER SMASH GRAND FINAL
You don’t want to miss this. All on from 4pm to decide the best Twenty20 team in the land. Winner takes all. Massive.
Social Media hashtags #GPSuperSmash, #GPFinal
Tickets
One to Watch
Donovan Grobbelaar’s been on the scene for the Aces since 2012 and contributes in every department, right-handed with the bat and left-armed with his brisk medium pace. The South African-born 31-year-old is also a livewire of enthusiasm for his side — and that’s gold when the pressure’s on.
He seems to thrive on it. The tighter the game, the higher the stakes, the better. “Grobby” had forced his way into the Aces’ side after grabbing more than 50 wickets from just 14 matches for Howick Pakuranga in Auckland club cricket, and he hasn’t looked back. He can be explosive with his blistering batting strike rates, deceptive with his line and change of pace and as we say, has the chutzpah to perform under pressure — as he did in January 2013 to keep the Aces’ Twenty20 title dream alive.
Needing to beat the Stags to take a spot in the Finals, with 30 runs needed from the final three overs the allrounder took 19 from Jacob Oram, then blasted 11 from the second to last over to send his side through with an unbeaten 36 from 19. It was business as usual for Grobbelaar, however — he’s done much the same just two days earlier to save his side’s season against the Cantabs.
Also noted as the owner of the fairest, most light-deflecting set of eyebrows seen in New Zealand cricket since Mark Priest, Grobby loves getting involved with the Aces’ social media and donned a GoPro to show us around their ‘office’ at the start of this season’s Georgie Pie Super Smash: check it out.
Win $10,000!
Get yourself in the crowd at Seddon because thanks to Georgie Pie we’ve got an amazing opportunity over the upcoming Finals to win yourself one of two big cash prizes for catching a six one-handed!
$5000 is up for grabs on Friday night — and if no one does it, the prize carries over to Saturday’s game. Then, head to the Final on Sunday to be in to catch yourself a new $5000.
Plus… if no one has won the loot from Friday/Saturday, we’ll make that $10,000. Whoa.
Terms and conditions apply but if you’re unsure what to do just study the form here. The Seddon Park bank’s been the lucky spot!
Get On It
Stay up with the play with Georgie Pie Super Smash social media —let us know who you’re backing to take out the Finals.
#GPSuperSmash Photo of the Week
The Aces’ Tarun Nethula slides into a quicksand of dust on the outskirts of a sunny McLean Park. Photo by Kerry Marshall, www.Photosport.co.nz
