New Zealand international Matt Henry made an impact in the latest Super Smash game for the Canterbury Kings as they scored a vital 11--run win over the Wellington Firebirds.
The result at the Basin Reserve continues a late charge from a stacked Kings side who leap-frog the Auckland Aces into fourth spot, ahead of a second clash with the Firebirds, this time at Hagley Oval, on Friday.
If the Kings can keep their late charge running hot, and make it two from two against the Firebirds, a tantalising shot at revenge over current leader the Central Stags awaits in their following fixture, also at Hagley Oval, on Sunday.
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Matt Boyle (37 off 28 balls) again impressed for the red and blacks, the 22-year-old enjoying his breakthrough T20 summer.
He's now back in the top three men's batters with 249 runs from seven innings, and eyeing up his elder brother Jack who's in second spot with 268 runs for the Stags.
Boyle junior was supported by his captain Cole McConchie (51 off 39) to boost the run rate through the middle of the Kings' innings, before Firebirds firebrand Ben Sears clamped down at the death to limit the damage to 164-7 in their 20 overs.
It took Henry just three balls to pick up his first wicket in response, and crucially he came back in the 14th over to stop a Michael Bracewell rampage, the dangerous Firebirds Black Cap having slammed 33 off 17 balls, including two sixes — one of which was smashed out of the ground.
Henry eventually finished with figurs of 3-21.
Earlier defending women's champion Wellington Blaze has put in a dress rehearsal on their home turf after dominating the Canterbury Magicians.
Amelia Kerr's Blaze now sits just four points (one win) behind leader the Otago Sparks and, with three rounds to come for the Wellingtonians, can still snatch direct entry to the Grand Final for a fourth straight year.
Blaze posted a formidable 171/3 after Kerr elected to bat, the highest total in the women's competition this season - bettering the 152/7 set by Northern Brave last week.
Rebecca Burns (an unbeaten 59* off 51 at first drop) top-scored while Jess Kerr continued her outstanding all-round season, backing up 44 off 29 balls with 4-11 — making double breakthroughs in both her first and last overs to underpin a comfortable 39-run win.
The Blaze has now won five games from seven rounds, and the frontrunning Otago Sparks are the only team to have defeated them (twice) this season.