Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 New Zealand Super Smash | League Stage
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Canterbury Kings are aiming to go one step further in this season’s Super Smash and start with a showdown against Otago Volts.
Date & time: Thursday December 26th 2024: USA PT – 7:25pm / USA ET – 10:25pm / Friday December 27th 2024: UK – 3:25am
Venue: Molyneux Park, Alexandra, New Zealand
Weather: Mostly sunny with a hint of cloud cover and temperatures a tick over 20c.
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 Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings
Otago Volts Preview: Moving away from disappointing last year
Otago Volts were one of two teams last season to finish with a negative net-run-rate, the other being rock-bottom Northern Brave. Like the Brave, Otago failed to reach the top three and improvement will be needed in this latest campaign. A return to 2022-23 when they finished second-place in the group would be most welcome for Volts fans.
Canterbury Kings Preview: Trying to end 19 years of hurt
You have to go all the way back to 2005-06 for the last time that Canterbury Kings were triumphant in the Super Smash. It must feel like a curse at this point, especially after last season when the Kings were denied a potential title by the weather. They were 133/2 after 14.2 overs batting first against Auckland Aces in the final, before rain curtailed proceedings and gifted Auckland the trophy due to finishing top of the group.
Otago Volts Betting Analysis
A right-arm medium bowler with a good set of variations and changes of pace, Otago Volts’ Jake Gibson is a player who is worthy of attention from bettors. Gibson took ten wickets in the 2023-24 Super Smash and it would be no surprise to see him given a high level of responsibility again with the ball this campaign. Consider backing Gibson to pick up over 1.5 match wickets vs the Kings.
Canterbury Kings Betting Analysis
Long serving Canterbury stalwart Henry Nicholls will have a big role to play once again for the Kings as he looks to replicate the form of last season. Nicholls was the top scorer in the most recent Super Smash, racking up 317 runs at an average of 39.62 across ten innings. In the one completed game between these two teams last season, Nicholls recorded 59 from 33 balls and should be backed to hit 30+ runs here.
Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings Expert Prediction
Canterbury Kings have a right to feel like the world is against them after the washout in last season’s final and could well use that as motivation going into the competition. They have all the tools to succeed and against a weak-looking Otago Volts, the likelihood is that the Kings will come out on top here and should be backed as appropriate.
Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings Top Tip: Canterbury Kings to win
