2021/22 Women's Super Smash: Eliminator Final Preview (Otago vs Auckland)

Wellington wahine cruised into Saturday's Super Smash final with a perfect 10-0 record, leaving Otago and Auckland to face off in Thursday's eliminator final. This will be a home game for Otago who are 8-2 and both losses came against Wellington, while Auckland are 5-5 and as we dive into this match up it becomes pretty damn clear that Auckland face a hefty challenge in Dunedin tomorrow.

In their games this season, Otago have dominated Auckland. The first encounter was on December 29 and Otago put up 153/2 to which Auckland replied with 108/9, which was then amplified further on January 15 as Auckland put up 106/6 and Otago cruised to victory without losing a wicket. Two games played and when combining their scores we are left with 368/2 for Otago and 214/15 for Auckland.

The general vibe of this Super Smash has been two very good teams in Wellington and Otago, plus four ho-hum teams. Otago enter this final as staunch favourites and it would be rude not to highlight an undercurrent of extra juice to this contest; Aucklands young players are loved by NZC but don't do much, while Otago's youngsters are dominating without much love.

We can measure this in White Ferns opportunities and NZC Development Contracts. Auckland's Fran Jonas and Molly Penfold have received White Ferns call ups in the past year or so, while Auckland have received six of 16 NZC Development Contracts across two years; Jonas (twice), Bella Armstrong (twice), Penfold and Skye Bowden. This is relevant as it sets up the two teams and how their talent is perceived by the folks who matter, yet as we cruise through actual performances there is a rather funky narrative at work...

20 bowlers have 8+ wickets. Otago have six of these bowlers with Eden Carson, Emma Black, Sophie Oldershaw and Molly Loe all under 25-years-old, plus Kate Ebrahim and Hayley Jensen. Auckland has one bowler in this group - Arlene Kelly.

Otago's Best Bowlers

Eden Carson: 4th - 15w @ 5.21rpo/15.2sr.

Kate Ebrahim: 7th - 13w @ 6.44rpo/14.6sr.

Emma Black: 8th - 13w @ 6.55rpo/17.5sr.

Sophie Oldershaw: 10th - 12w @ 5.07rpo/19.5sr.

Molly Loe: 13th - 10w @ 7.25rpo/13.9sr.

Hayley Jensen: 14th - 9w @ 4.66rpo/8sr.

Auckland's Best Bowlers

Arlene Kelly: 16th - 9w @ 5.08rpo/24sr.

Auckland's next best bowlers are Holly Huddleston and Anna Peterson, leaving the young bowlers well behind Otago's young bowlers. Otago's bowling unit does not have a pressure release valve and six bowlers in the top-15 for wickets gives Otago a massive firepower advantage with the ball. Jensen is a funky bowling x-factor as she took 4 wickets in her first Super Smash game before spending time in Australia, returning with 3w @ 5.25rpo vs Auckland and 2w @ 3.75rpo vs Canterbury.

20 batters have scored 137+ runs. Otago have four and Auckland have three, with Auckland led nicely by skipper Lauren Down and veteran Katie Perkins. Holly Huddleston has been solid without commanding White Ferns World Cup selection and is Auckland's third best batter, which alludes to the wider context as Auckland don't have a young batter performing at a high level. Saachi Shahri (no NZC Dev Contract) has at least found a wrinkle of form in the last three games, otherwise Auckland will rely on their veterans.

Otago's Best Batters

Suzie Bates: 1st - 426 runs @ 60.85avg/114.82sr.

Katey Martin: 7th - 197 runs @ 21.88avg/98.99sr.

Polly Inglis: 8th - 195 runs @ 21.66avg/91.54sr.

Kate Ebrahim: 19th - 138 runs @ 27.60avg/95.17sr.

Auckland's Best Batters

Lauren Down: 5th - 233 runs @ 25.88avg/95.88sr.

Katie Perkins: 6th - @ 229 runs @ 22.90avg/92.71sr.

Holly Huddleston: 17th - 143 runs @ 20.42avg/96.62sr.

All signs point to an Otago victory. They have dominated Auckland already, are playing in Dunedin and they have better veterans as well as better youngsters. Otago is also a superior fielding side which again flows between the veterans with Martin behind the sticks, Bates catching everything and Ebrahim easily the most niggly/competitive cricketer in Aotearoa. The youngsters are slick in the field too with Carson one of the best fielders in Aotearoa and athletic young bowlers helping each other out.

I want to be proven wrong. I want some of these Auckland youngsters to step up, chime in with match-winning performances and showcase their talents. This game feels like a fair representation of wahine cricket in Aotearoa though as Otago have the better team, better veterans and better youngsters but Auckland get the attention, the WF nods and development contracts.

Otago don't need their youngsters to fire as the likes of Bates, Martin, Ebrahim and Jensen are good enough to lead their team to victory. Otago's youngsters probably will fire though because they seem to be pretty damn good, while Auckland need a couple youngsters to step up in support of Down, Perkins, Huddleston, Kelly and Anna Peterson (if she plays).

Wellington awaits the winner. This eliminator final not only sets up an fun final (either way), it encapsulates all the lovely and weird stuff of Aotearoa women's cricket. With a home World Cup lurking on the horizon, you may want to pay close attention to this Otago vs Auckland match up and learn some truths about wahine cricket.

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Peace and love.