Northern Brave vs Wellington Firebirds Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 New Zealand Super Smash | League Stage
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Northern Brave will be hoping to make it ten points from three home fixtures by beating Wellington Firebirds, who are only just competing in their first match of this season’s tournament.
Date & time: Tuesday December 31st 2024: USA PT – 7:25pm / USA ET – 10:25pm / Wednesday January 1st 2025: UK – 3:25am
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand
Weather: Cloudy but dry with sporadic sunny spells and temperatures of 22c.
How to watch: USA – ESPN+ / UK – TNT Sports & discovery+ / Australia – Foxtel / New Zealand – TVNZ Duke
How to get tickets for the 2024-25 Super Smash: Click here for the latest ticket information for Northern Brave vs Wellington Firebirds
Northern Brave Preview: Still waiting to take the field
Northern Brave didn’t get the opportunity to bowl or face a ball in their scheduled opening game of the competition as their clash with Auckland Aces was rained off. A frustrating outcome for the team who finished bottom of the table in last season’s Super Smash, but at least they start with two points on the board without having to fight for them.
Wellington Firebirds Preview: Birds ready to take extra step
Four-time Super Smash champions, Wellington Firebirds will see themselves as one of the big fish in this campaign’s tournament and after making it to the elimination final last season, must back themselves to once again earn a top three finish in the league stage, but this time go all the way to the big dance.
Northern Brave Betting Analysis
We focused on Neil Wagner when analysing the Brave in our preview of their scheduled game vs Auckland and once again highlight the now retired New Zealand international bowler. His left arm angle brings with it a significant wicket-taking threat, as does his experience which will see him not phased at all if he gets attacked by opposition batters. Back Wagner to gain over 1.5 match wickets if he is in the Northern Brave team.
Wellington Firebirds Betting Analysis
Wellington Firebirds can call upon an experienced pace bowler of their own, albeit a right-armer as opposed to Wagner’s left-arm bolts. Logan van Beek recorded 15 wickets across ten games in last season’s competition and the 34-year-old will once again shoulder plenty of responsibility here for the Birds. Bettors could end up profiting with a stake on him to register 2+ wickets.
Northern Brave vs Wellington Firebirds Expert Prediction
Wellington Firebirds were a much better side than Northern Brave last season and that was reflected in the league stage table. Both could prove rusty here, particularly in the field with the two teams having not played so far in this tournament. But the superior strength-in-depth of Wellington’s batting may well wind up being a decisive factor and makes backing the Firebirds worthwhile in this one.
Northern Brave vs Wellington Firebirds Top Tip: Wellington Firebirds to win
