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A large crowd from Basin Reserve approached one of their favorite adopted sons, while the Devon Conway gorge continued for the Wellington Firebirds, who secured back-to-back men’s Twenty20 Super Smash titles on Saturday.
The South African exporter, greeted with gratitude by the Black Caps, who will include him on Sunday to face Australia, once again showed his class and cool head to guide Wellington home by five wickets over the Canterbury Kings in the final, to a great summer crowd of 5545..
Chasing 176, Conway took the reins after the early loss of tournament player Finn Allen, scoring 93, not out of 63 balls in a masterful stroke, rated by captain Michael Bracewell as the best he had ever witnessed.
MARTY MELVILLE / PHOTOSPORT
Victory! Devon Conway connects the winning runs of Will Williams in the final of the Super Smash men’s final.
“I had never seen anything like it. He has played some exceptional shots for us and I would say that he is number 1, even the 300 that he scored here. [against Canterbury] He lives up to that 93 not in a final, ”Bracewell said.
READ MORE:
* Men’s Super Smash Grand Final Live – Wellington Firebirds v Canterbury Kings
* ‘It’s like I’m batting in a video game’ – the fearsome Finn Allen on the Black Caps fast lane
* Hamish Bennett aims for back-to-back titles against former teammates, Black Caps lifesavers
* Super Smash: Canterbury Kings beat Central Stags in latest elimination thriller
Words cannot describe how good he is, in those moments of pressure he is still standing. It’s great to see him play international cricket because that’s where he belongs, but we’ll continue to use him for as long as we can in the national game. “
The Kings fought hard and the hosts still needed 21 of the final two overs, but with key help from Jamie Gibson, Conway pushed past Matt Henry’s successive limits. With six needed from Will Williams, a thick edge of the rope was enough as Conway jumped up and hit the air, his home team with two balls to spare.
The Firebirds star hit 11 four-six, his fifth half-century of another prolific season, as he finished second on the charts behind Allen with 455 runs in 65.
It was the Firebirds’ third T20 title in five years, as they matched their final home win over Auckland a year ago.
MARTY MELVILLE / PHOTOSPORT
Captain Michael Bracewell and the Firebirds consecutively celebrate the men’s Super Smash titles at Basin Reserve.
For the Kings, dominant in the other formats this season, the wait continues for a T20 title that was last won in 2006 with a team that includes Brendon McCullum, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns and Shane Bond.
Needing a mark of less than nine and up, the Firebirds flew off the blocks, with a few hiccups. Allen hit Henry on all fours in a row before smashing the favorite bat with duct tape that gave him 512 runs to 57 and a strike rate of 194.
The arrival of Kings captain Cole McConchie with his detour, and the willow change caused Allen to unravel when he scooped into 16 and a hazard disappeared.
When Chad Bowes caught a ripper to remove Tom Blundell, second ball, the Kings were flying but the promoted Troy Johnson charged, and their towering six against McConchie left them 61-2 after the six-over power play.
MARTY MELVILLE / PHOTOSPORT
Firebirds starter Devon Conway hit 11 fours and six in his winning innings.
Johnson’s attack (28 of 15) was the contrast Conway needed as he advanced magnificently on his innings, hitting sweetly on the outside side and topping one of six while sailing to 50 of 31 balls, the Firebirds’ hopes again resting with last season. leading scorer of runs who rarely seemed to fail.
Allrounder Daryl Mitchell was a key absentee from the bowling area, shooting just one more and then appeared to be injured on the field.
The Firebirds’ total first hitter average in five home games this season was 163, leaving the Kings on par and in the competition at 175-8.
On a new field with some pace, they got off to a quick start through Bowes (37 of 23) and Mitchell (35 of 24), who led them to victory over the Stags on Thursday.
After key pacemakers Hamish Bennett and Ben Sears were tied up early, the spin did the trick for the Firebirds who got it back, fielding well and holding a few catches.
MARTY MELVILLE / PHOTOSPORT
Firebirds spinner Peter Younghusband celebrates Chad Bowes’ window.
Legspinner Peter Younghusband (2-25 of three) knocked out Bowes and then led Mitchell’s big wicket to a wonderful low catch in Conway’s outfield.
Then Bracewell’s golden arm struck successive windows again on his first change; Leo Carter and then Cam Fletcher first ball, caught and thrown.
McConchie (44 of 39) propelled his team to a decent score before former Cantab Logan van Beek struck late, finishing 3-28 to set up a tense chase.
Men’s Super Smash Twenty20 Final at Basin Reserve, Wellington: Canterbury Kings 175-8 20-overs (Cole McConchie 44, Chad Bowes 37, Daryl Mitchell 35; Logan van Beek 3-28, Michael Bracewell 2-3, Peter Younghusband 2-25) lost to Wellington Firebirds 178-5 of 19.4 overs (Devon Conway 93rd, Troy Johnson 28; Ed Nuttall 2-32) for 5 wickets.
