Two destructive innings from Tim Robinson and Nick Kelly have helped the Wellington Firebirds to a 21-run victory over the Canterbury Magicians in a T20 Super Smash match at Hagley Oval.
Robinson struck 86 off 46 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, with Kelly hitting 72 off 48 as the Firebirds, who lost the toss, posted a formidable total of 184-5 under bright sunshine in Christchurch.
An excellent performance with the ball from medium pacer Angus McKenzie, who took 3-15, helped limit the damage for the home side, who lost Chad Bowes in the first over of their reply.
Black Caps Tom Latham (44) and Henry Nicholls (41) were Canterbury’s best before Nicholls hit leg spinner Peter Younghusband to the long on fielder and Latham departed via the most unfortunate of runouts – Michael Bracewell getting a touch on a Bevon Jacobs drive and Latham caught short of his ground.
Latham and Nicholls had put on 64 for the second wicket before the latter’s departure, with Latham’s wicket coming at the worst time for Canterbury – in the 14th over two balls after Mitch Hay’s dismissal.
With the required run rate quickly rising above 11 per over, the Magicians struggled to hit boundaries from there on.
Jacobs showed some promise in hitting Bracewell over his head for a big six but there was little resistance once he was caught behind off Logan van Beek’s bowling. Canterbury finished on 163-7, with Michael Rippon left not out on 25.
The result consolidates Wellington’s position at the top of the table, with Canterbury third.
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