So, that also brings an end to our coverage of the 16th game of the Super Smash 2023-24. For now, this is me Hiren Kumar signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Deepak Prakash along with scorer/analyst Ashok Dayma.
Robert O'Donnell (Auckland Skipper) - "Yeah, very pleasing to get a result like this against the Canterbury side. We bowled extremely well with the ball and a very good surface out there.
Also credit to Allen and Chapy (Mark Chapman) do get the job done with the bat. Finn is a world class player and can access all around the ground and today he was brilliant as well."
Cole McConchie (Canterbury Skipper) - "I think 140 meant we had to bowl out of our skins there, but yeah could not quite get the momentum there with the bat. We have a short turn around and we will be back again on Tuesday.
We have take one game at a time and that's the nature of the tournament and we will look come back strong on Tuesday. Certainly, it was nice to have family and friends out here and their support."
Finn Allen (Player of the Match) - "It was a bit warm out there. Good to get the boys over the line. It was a bit difficult in the first 4-5 overs and credit to them for bowling well at the top.
It was good to bat with Chapy (Mark Chapman). He also played a wonderful knock and the way he came out. It was good to play against some of the best players in the country and very happy to get over the line."
Player of the Match: Finn Allen
6:56 Local Time and 11:27 IST: Auckland win by 8 wickets. It was a clinical performance from them and they completely outplayed Canterbury in all three departments.
Opting to field, the Auckland bowlers took full advantage of the pitch and bowled on tight lines and lengths. The Canterbury top order was dismissed cheaply inside the powerplay. Daryl Mitchell had some runs to his name in the middle order but he also struggled to find boundaries at regular intervals.
He played a fine knock of 57* runs off 50 balls. Michael Rippon assisted Mitchell well and both scored 59 runs for the 5th wicket partnership. None of the other batters got going and found it difficult to bat on this pitch.
Coming to Auckland, they were clinical with the ball and made full use of the conditions. Louis Delport was the pick of the bowlers and he ended with figures of 2/20 in his 4 overs. Danru Ferns and Lockie Ferguson also bowled well and picked up a wicket each. Overall, a good collective effort from the Auckland bowlers to restrict them to just 140.
Coming to the chase, Auckland lost Sean Solia (13) early inside the powerplay but it was then the partnership between Finn Allen and Mark Chapman that completely took the game away from Canterbury. They both added 118 runs for the second wicket partnership and completely blew away Canterbury from the game. Finn Allen looked scratchy initially, but once he got set, he played his shots and scored 78* off 46 balls and was the hero of the chase.
For Canterbury, they had nothing to celebrate except the first wicket of Solia. They were expensive in the middle overs and failed to break the partnership. Michael Rippon did pick the wicket of Chapman in the end but it was already too late and the game was done and dusted. Overall, almost a perfect game for Auckland and they sit top on the points table with 3 wins in their 6 games.
Stay tuned for the presentations coming your way.
15.2 Z Foulkes to R ODonnell
1 That's it, a comprehensive victory for the Aces as they beat Canterbury Kings by 8 wickets with 28 balls to spare. Full and on the stumps. O'Donnell drives it down to mid-on and hustles for a single to finish the match.
15.1 Z Foulkes to R ODonnell
0 Short of a length delivery just outside off. O'Donnell looks to uppercut but misses.