The Super Smash rolls along with Canterbury's Matt Boyle sitting as the best youngster across both competitions, although White Ferns spinners Eden Carson and Fran Jonas would be in contention if they weren't international cricketers already. Carson is the leading wicket-taker in the Women's Super Smash and while Jonas is one spot below her in the bowling charts, Carson is the best player on the best team right now and that's in tune with her excellence in T20 bowling...

T20Is: 16.1avg/6.2rpo

Super Smash: 18.2avg/6.2rpo

It's a different vibe for 21-year-old Boyle who is in a Canterbury team that is 0-3 to start the campaign. There was a gloomy feeling at Hagley Oval for the Canterbury vs Otago game day this week as both Canterbury teams lost to their South Island rivals, which gives Canterbury a combined 1-5 record in the Super Smash this season.

Boyle's in a groove though with scores of 18, 37 and 81*. This is part of a delightful summer for Boyle as he scored 57* @ 167sr for the NZ-11 vs Sri Lanka a few weeks ago, after hitting 59 and 116 in consecutive Plunket Shield games. There has been plenty of hype around Rhys Mariu as an emerging opening batter, but Boyle can't be overlooked given how solid he has been in the other formats as well as his swift T20 scoring.

Matt Boyle this summer

Plunket Shield: 213 runs @ 35.5avg/68sr, 1 x 100, 1 x 50

Ford Trophy: 94 runs @ 31.3avg/93sr

Super Smash: 136 runs @ 68avg/160sr, 1 x 50

Otago still offers an enticing concentration of young talent in both their teams...

Max Chu - 24yrs

109 runs @ 36.3avg/155.7sr, 1 x 50 (3rd for runs)

Llew Johnson - 24yrs

72 runs @ 24avg/156.5sr, 1 x 50 (10th for runs)

Ben Lockrose - 24yrs

16 runs @ 8avg/178sr | 5w @ 21.6avg/7.7rpo (6th for wickets)

Olivia Gain - 23yrs

82 runs @ 41avg/105.1sr (7th for runs)

Emma Black - 23yrs

4w @ 21.5avg/5.3rpo

Chu has had scores of 4 and 23 after starting with a monster knock of 82. He has dipped down the batting line up recently to settle in his usual role and along with Johnsons' naturally funky power, as well as Lockrose's brutal hitting; Otago has plenty of oomph.

Lockrose has formed a dynamic spin combo with Dean Foxcroft, with Foxcroft continuing his push for more Blackcaps opportunities as he's second for wickets (7w @ 11avg/6.4rpo) and fourth for runs (97 runs @ 48avg/114sr). All three of these younger Otago Volts are exciting hitters with different styles and deserve plenty of attention.

Gain put up 48 runs in the win vs Canterbury, which is part of a nice string of scores starting with 55 in the HBJ Shield followed by 10* and 24 in the Super Smash. Gain is second for Otago runs behind Polly Inglis and along with Caitlin Blakely, they have 50+ runs and strike-rates over 100.

Black is always a factor with the ball for Sparks as she has a Super Smash record of 20avg/6.6rpo. With 7w @ 24avg/3.3rpo in HBJ Shield, Black has taken a wicket in eight of her last 10 games and is one of the most economical Super Smash bowlers this season.

Two other notable youngsters in the women's competition are Central Districts leggy Ocean Bartlett and Canterbury seamer Missy Banks. Bartlett is having a fantastic summer so far and may be the best young bowler outside of the White Ferns, while Banks is Canterbury's second best bowler with their second highest batting strike-rate.

Ocean Bartlett - 21yrs

Super Smash: 5w @ 14.2avg/6.6rpo

HBJ Shield: 13w @ 16.3avg/4.4rpo

Missy Banks - 23yrs

Super Smash: 20 runs @ 133sr | 5w @ 15avg/6.2rpo

HBJ Shield: 33 runs @ 8avg/59sr | 4w @ 47avg/3.6rpo

Other notable youngsters in the men's competition are Northern Districts seamer Kristian Clark and Wellington's Muhammad Abbas. Clarke is ND's best bowler but he is also one of the most expensive bowlers in the top of the wicket-taking charts. Abbas has already bagged a 50+ score and while he hasn't taken a wicket, Wellington have used his lefty seam for 6ov @ 9.5rpo.

Kristian Clarke - 23yrs

4w @ 17.2avg/9.8rpo

Muhammad Abbas - 21yrs

62runs @ 62avg/151sr

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