Abbas comes of age to help Firebirds to victory over Stags

Nineteen-year-old Muhammad Abbas has helped the Wellington Firebirds to a four-wicket Super Smash victory over the Central Districts Stags in Napier today with a well-timed 72 off 38 balls.

Abbas clubbed five sixes and six fours during his knock, his highest score in the competition, after making his debut just before Christmas.

He came to the crease with Wellington teetering a little at 50-3 in the eighth over in reply to Central’s 158-7 after the home side won the toss and elected to bat at McLean Park.

But Abbas quickly made his mark in partnership with New Zealand international Michael Bracewell, the pair putting on 92 before Abbas was out caught in the 17th over.

Abbas made the bulk of the runs and brought the run rate down to a manageable level after it crept up to just under 10 an over.

“I stuck to my game and strengths and I think that worked for me pretty well,” Abbas, a recent New Zealand Under-19 representative, said.

But there was late drama after Wellington were brought to the brink of victory; first, Abbas was out to a short ball from Blair Tickner and then Bracewell followed for a score of 41 four runs later.

Callum McLachlan may have sent another scare through the camp after going for a three-ball duck but Nathan Smith (12 off four balls) and Logan van Beek saw Wellington home, the winning runs delivered via a Smith four off the first ball of the final over.

Bevan Small was the best of Central’s bowlers with 4-22.

Earlier, Central District’s opener Will Young got his team off to a good start with 50 off 33 balls. Young and Dane Cleaver (29 off 27) put on 84 for the second wicket. Van Beek was the best of Wellington’s bowlers with 3-24 off his four overs.

The victory sent Wellington to the top of the Super Smash table.

In the women's Super Smash at Napier's McLean Park, Melie Kerr's unbeaten 60 from 50 balls helped the Wellington Blaze to an eight wicket win over the Central Hinds.

The Hinds notched 131-3 off their 20 overs, Hannah Rowe top scoring with 43 from 39 balls, followed by opener Hollie Armitage with 33 from 23.

Kerr hit seven boundaries in a controlled innings as she led Wellington to victory and the top of the table, supported by Georgia Plimmer — the pair combined for an unbeaten partnership of 96.