Cricket: Aces could trump rest

It has been a rather underwhelming competition, but three teams are still very keen to claim the top prize. Adrian Seconi looks at the teams contesting the Super Smash finals.

Northern Knights
Record: Played nine, won seven, lost two.

Prospects: They have to start as favourites. They are the defending champions, they are playing at home and they boast the best record this summer.

Key players: Captain Daniel Flynn is the competition's leading scorer with 322 runs at an average of 35.77 and useful strike rate of 125.29. Middle-order batsman Daryl Mitchell has played some crucial knocks and has the ability to lift his strike rate when required. Spinner Jono Boult has been effective with 10 wickets at 24.40 and an economy rate of 6.97, and Black Caps legspinner Ish Sodhi will bolster the Knights' impressive spin bowling stocks.

Wellington Firebirds
Record: Played nine, won five, lost three, one no result.

Prospects: The Firebirds have been largely unaffected by the Black Caps and New Zealand A tours of the UAE. They have quality and experience throughout their line-up and one or two players who are overdue to make a big score or take a bunch of wickets.

Key players: Wellington captain James Franklin fits into that category of long overdue. More a batsman these days, the lanky left-hander has a high score of just 35. He has dominated at domestic level and remains a very real threat. Offspinner Jeetan Patel passed up an opportunity to play for the Black Caps earlier this year but has been in terrific form with eight cheap wickets. He can also be handy with the bat and chimed in with some last-over heroics against Otago.

Auckland Aces
Record: Played nine, won five, lost four.

Prospects: I am going out on a limb and picking Auckland to win it. The Aces have an abundance of batting power, especially once their New Zealand A players return. Colin de Grandhomme is the most dangerous hitter in the tournament. Colin Munro can hit a long ball and is creative about which areas he targets. Craig Cachopa clubs it, and so can Anaru Kitchen.

Key players: Legspinner Tarun Nethula has proven hard to get away and has 10 wickets to his name, while left-armer Donovan Grobbelaar has been both frugal and deadly with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.00. But batsmen Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol hold the key.

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