Two teams have been pencilled in for Super Smash qualifying while there was a couple of strong T20 bowling performances. at Hagley Oval.
Black Cap Matt Henry backed up Wednesday's match-winning 3-21 performance against the Firebirds in Wellington with a repeat dose against the Firebirds in Christchurch.
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Henry claimed 5-18 after the Kings had sent the Firebirds in, as well as taking a brilliant catch off Zak Foulkes.
It was the sixth best figures in the Kings’ T20 history, but it didn’t stop the Firebirds from pumping what proved to be a winning total of 167 — young Firebirds opener Jesse Tashkoff with his maiden T20 half century, 52 off 40 balls.
Ben Sears (2-23), Michael Bracewell (4-31) and Peter Younghusband (2-28) then combined to hand the Kings a bruising 31-run loss.
The split results between the Kings are Firebirds in their home and away clashes means neither team can now catch men’s leader the Central Stags at the top of the castle (other men’s teams still can), and they remain in imminent peril at the foot of the men's ladder.
Former leaders the Otago Volts meanwhile need to win in their last round tomorrow (against Northern Brave) to match the Stags on 22 points, but with other sides breathing down their neck in a tight men's race for the three qualifying berths.
Earlier, White Fern Sophie Devine claimed her best T20 figures at the same ground, a stunning bag of 5-13 off her four overs against the Canterbury Magicians.
That’s Blaze’s second equal best T20 individual performance with the ball, bettered only by Melie Kerr’s 5-10, and matching Kerr's 5-13 in second spot, both those achievements from last summer's title-winning season.
Devine’s first Dream11 Super Smash bag eclipsed her only other T20 five-for, a haul of 5-41 for the Adelaide Strikers in the 2018/19 Women’s Big Bash.
Devine struck in each of her four overs and finished with a rare T20 double wicket maiden in the 17th, to help the defending champion Wellington Blaze restrict the Magicians to 101-8 at Hagley Oval before they chased down their target in just 11.2 over to gallop to a 10-wicket win.
The resounding victory not only put defending champion Blaze through to the Finals weekend on their home turf of the Cello Basin Reserve (1 and 2 February), but also, the Otago Sparks who are level on 24 points.
But the Sparks now suddenly sit lower than the Blaze on net run rate - and the Sparks have only one crunch round left, against well performed Northern Brave tomorrow at Bay Oval, while the Blaze has two rounds still to go in order to ink in the top spot.
The third spot at the Finals weekend, and confirmation of the direct entry ticket to the women’s Grand Final courtesy of finishing top of the table, are both still up for grabs.
The second and third qualifying teams must face off in a sudden death 2v3 Elimination Final on the preceding day, so direct entry to the Grand Final is highly coveted.
Wellington Blaze and the Canterbury Magicians wore black armbands to pay their respects to former White Fern and hockey double international Ann McKenna who has passed away at 81.
Points at a glance (number of rounds played)
Men:
Central Stags 22 (8)
Otago Volts 18 (9)
Auckland Aces 16 (8)
Northern Brave 16 (7)
Canterbury Kings 12 (8)
Wellington Firebirds 12 (8)
Women:
Wellington Blaze 24 (8)
Otago Sparks 24 (9)
Northern Brave 16 (7)
Auckland Hearts 14 (8)
Canterbury Magicians 12 (8)
Central Hinds 6 (8)