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Sport Nation
Star-studded Kings demolish Brave to book spot in Super Smash Final
Sport Nation • February 1st, 2025 7:10 pm
Photo: Photosport
The Canterbury Kings have cruised into Super Smash Final with a seven-wicket demolition of the Northern Brave at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.
After the Kings rolled through the Braves' top order to limit them to a paltry 110/9, the Cantabrians - spearheaded by Matt Boyle's 48 off 25 balls - raced to their target with almost seven overs to spare.
The Kings will face the Central Stags in Sunday's decider.
The writing was on the wall almost immediately for the Brave, as the King's dynamic strike duo of Matt Henry (2/2) and Kyle Jamieson (3/19) stormed out of the gates with a remarkable opening spell.
Henry took two wickets without conceding a run through his first three overs, while Jamieson snared three to bury the Brave to the tune of 7/5 in the sixth over.
It rounded out a disappointing day for the Northern Brave, after their women's team were earlier toppled by hosts Wellington Blaze in the women's Super Smash Elimination Final.
Jeet Raval (45 off 38) and Brett Hampton knuckled down in an attempt to salvage a respectable total for the Brave, putting on a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
But Hampton (19) was bowled by Ben Shipley and his teammate Kristian Clarke followed suit without troubling the scorers, leaving the Brave 7/57 in the 12th over.
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Neil Wagner (18 off 14) and Fred Walker (16 off 16) held around to see the Braves through their allotted 20 overs - a feat that had earlier seemed a pipe dream.
Defending just 111, the Brave were heartened by an early strike, picking up the wicket of Mitch Hay in the opening over.
But Boyle quickly found his rhythm, slamming nine boundaries before nicking one behind with the result well in the bag at 70/2 after eight overs.
Daryl Mitchell (20) and Chad Bowes (33*) put the finishing touches on a comprehensive win.
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