• Match: Canterbury Kings vs Northern Brave, 18th Match, Super Smash 2023-24
• Date and Time: January 09, 04:30 am GMT/ 08:30 am IST / 05:30 pm local time
• Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Canterbury Kings: Canterbury Kings faced an 8-wicket loss against Auckland in their recent match, managing only 140-5 in 20 overs before Auckland secured victory in the 16th over. This defeat pushed Canterbury Kings down to third place on the points table, having registered two wins, two losses, and an equal number of washouts.

Northern Brave: On the other hand, Northern Brave’s campaign has taken a downward turn with three consecutive defeats following their initial win against Central Districts. Currently positioned at the bottom of the points table, they suffered an 8-wicket defeat at the hands of Otago Volts in their last outing, marking a challenging phase in their journey.

Canterbury Kings: Cole McConchie (Captain), Matthew Hay, Mitchell Hay (Wicket-Keeper), Chad Bowes, Ken McClure, Henry Nicholls, Michael Rippon, Zakary Foulkes, Angus McKenzie, Michael Rae, William ORourke.

Northern Brave: Jeet Raval (Captain), Tim Seifert (Wicket-Keeper), Katene Clarke, Joe Carter, Henry Cooper, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Pringle, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Michell Santner.

Our recommendation is to support Canterbury for the victory. Canterbury has demonstrated superior cricket compared to Brave, who are currently facing a challenging phase with three consecutive losses. When assessing the overall team balance, Canterbury appears stronger on paper, showcasing quality in both batting and bowling departments. Considering Brave’s struggles in batting, failing to surpass 150 in three out of four games, the odds favor Canterbury for the win.

Prediction: Canterbury Kings to defeat Northern Brave.

Batsmen can expect more favorable conditions as the wicket has eased out. Both captains will likely aim to chase since the second innings is anticipated to offer better conditions for batting.

Batting should thrive on this pitch with its favorable conditions. The square boundaries are relatively short, and there’s expected to be consistent pace and bounce. Teams will likely target a minimum score of over 170 to feel secure given the nature of the pitch and ground dimensions.

The weather forecast predicts cloudy conditions, but there’s no impending rain expected. Temperatures will hover between 23 and 16 degrees Celsius during the event.

• Stadium: Hagley Oval
• City: Christchurch
• Capacity: 20,000
• Hosts to: Canterbury