Aotearoa's Super Smash continues to serve it's glorious purpose as Wellington Blaze took their dynasty even further and Northern Brave won their third championship in five years. The biggest storyline from Grand Final day was Jess Kerr's epic mahi in the final over to lead Wellington to victory over Auckland and while she has played second fiddle to her sister, Sophie Devine and the incredible imports who play for Blaze each summer, Jess is a Blaze legend and hero of Wellington sport.

Before the final over, Kerr watched wickets fall at the other end as White Ferns seamers Molly Penfold and Bree Illing served up their own clutch mahi. Penfold took a wicket and conceded just one run in the 13th over, followed by Illing doing the same in the 14th over and Penfold returning to deliver a wicket maiden in the 15th over.

To make things even funkier, Kerr faced the last two deliveries of the 13th over and didn't face a delivery in the 14th or 15th overs. Wellington had a hot start thanks to Rebecca Burns (55 runs @ 134sr) and Georgia Plimmer (28 runs @ 104sr), but at the end of the 16th over they needed 10.5rpo to win and three of their best batters were dismissed.

Kerr and Jess McFadyen kept things ticking along as the required run-rate kept increasing. McFadyen thrives in the longer format and while this campaign saw her score quicker than usual, her experience and composure was crucial in helping Kerr take the run-chase deep. With 16 runs required in the final over, McFadyen took a single and then Kerr smashed a six to spark up some goosebumps.

They grabbed one run off the next delivery with McFadyen being run-out, putting Kerr back on strike ... to hit another six. Prior to the final over, Burns had hit the only six of the final and then Kerr smacked two sixes to snatch momentum away from Auckland. Kerr only needed a couple runs to win and she hit a boundary to win the game, take Wellington to their 10th Super Smash championship and their third in a row.

Wellington Blaze are one of, if not the best sports teams in Aotearoa. The only teams who spring to mind with such pedigree in the last decade or so are Canterbury (religious raiders) in Super Rugby and Auckland City FC in National League football. The Blaze dynasty is built on foundations laid by many hearty wahine who established a winning culture and many would assume that it's all about Devine, even Amelia and for domestic cricket hardcores there are others like Leigh Kasperek who were instrumental in Blazing it up.

Devine and Amelia weren't playing in this game though, nor were the Aussie imports who love dabbling in Super Smash. Ellyse Perry withdrew from the WPL and popped up for a another Super Smash stint, forming a dominant core alongside Amelia and Aussie Maitlan Brown in the opening rounds. That helped Wellington win their first three games and yet the Blaze won their last three games without any Aussies as well.

Here are the big donnies (internationals/imports) who have played in Wellington's three consecutive Grand Final wins...

2023/24: Sophie Deinve, Amelia Kerr (c), Georgia Plimmer, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr
2024/25: Amelia Kerr (c), Hannah Darlington, Jess Kerr, Maitlan Brown
2024/25: Georgia Plimmer, Jess Kerr (c)

Wellington have also changed coaches in this period with Johnny Bassett-Graham grabbing his first championship. Blaze have also won Grand Finals against three different teams in Central Districts, Otago and Auckland.

Kerr was captain, took 1w @ 7rpo, scored 46* @178sr with clutch mahi in the final over and was one of, if not the best fielder in the game. With Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday also involved, Kerr was the best player in the Grand Final and the Blaze dynasty is as much about the older Kerr sister as it is about anyone else.

The Blaze dynasty also features a wide mix of players who chip in with winning mahi. Plimmer was the leading run-scorer for Wellington this season, Burns had an epic knock in the GF, McFadyen is still one of the best wicket-keepers in Aotearoa and played her role with the bat, while Xara Jetly has blasted her way into the wider White Ferns mix with a more prominent all-round role for Blaze this summer.

Nicole Baird's development as a mature cricketer has been crucial and she was third for Wellington wickets, building an excellent T20 bowling record through this dynasty. Jess Simmons moved up from Canterbury and offered classy all-round mahi, plus there is always a crop of funky Wellington youngsters who do their jobs for the best team. This season the group was led by Hannah Francis and Sam Mackinder, along with Isla McKenzie, Rachel Bryan and Natasha Codyre.

Leadership mana stems from the performance of the individual and how that person brings the best out of others. Kerr led by her actions as an elite kiwi cricketer and alongside senior players, they have continued the work of others to nurture a team culture where everyone does their job and thrives as a Blazer. Kerr not only delivered a legendary cricketing performance, she followed the Blaze recipe of leadership and culture to bring another championship back to the Basin Reserve - where Wellingtonians consistently show up as the best supporter base in women's cricket.

Kerr sisters in three consecutive Super Smash Grand Final wins...

2023/24 vs CD

Amelia (captain): 35 runs @ 100sr | 4ov @ 3.5rpo
Jess: 12 runs @ 120sr | 1w @ 7rpo

2024/25 vs Otago

Amelia (captain): 15 runs @ 68sr | 2w @ 3.7rpo
Jess: 3 runs @ 60sr | 1w @ 4.5rpo

2025/26 vs Auckland

Jess (captain): 1w @ 7rpo | 46* @ 178sr

Wellington Blaze - 15 players used

Georgia Plimmer: 252 runs @ 22.9avg/103sr
Jess Kerr: 219 runs @ 24.3avg/129sr | 15w @ 17.6avg/6.2rpo
Rebecca Burns: 211 runs @ 19.1avg/127sr
Amelia Kerr: 206 runs @ 103avg/137sr | 4w @ 13.2avg/4.8rpo
Xara Jetly: 131 runs @ 21.8avg/94sr | 16w @ 14.4avg/5.9po
Maitlan Brown: 122 runs @ 40.6avg/143sr | 3w @ 47.3avg/7.1rpo
Ellyse Perry: 103 runs @ 25.7avg/134sr | 6w @ 15.3avg/5.8rpo
Jess McFadyen: 77 runs @ 19.2avg/120sr
Hannah Francis: 75 runs @ 12.5avg/91sr | 3w 2 28.3avg/6.5rpo
Jess Simmons: 54 runs @ 18avg/138sr | 5w @ 31.6avg/7.5rpo
Sam Mackinder: 38 runs @ 19avg/127sr
Nicole Baird: 13 runs @ 13avg/144sr | 12w @ 16.5avg/6.6rpo
Isla McKenzie: 8 runs @ 4avg/114sr
Rachel Bryant: 5 runs @ 125sr | 1w @ 63avg/7rpo
Natasha Codyre: 1 run @ 1avg/33sr

Nothern Brave aren't quite at the Blaze dynasty level but they are the best T20 organisation on the men's side of Super Smash. Northern defeated Canterbury in the GF and unfortunately for Canterbury, they have built a GF losing dynasty. Brett Hampton led Northern for wickets and runs in the GF, taking 3w @ 9.2rpo first up and then smacking 55 runs @ 211sr to snatch the soul out of Hagley Oval.

Tim Pringle was another bowler of note with 1w @ 5rpo and Katene Clarke cruised along to 33 runs @ 137sr batting alongside Hampton at the top of Northern's line up. Joe Carter added 47 runs @ 168sr and Scott Kuggeleijn's 23* @ 177sr sealed the win for Northern.

Like Wellington, Northern have won Super Smash championships using different players across their last three GF wins. The only players who have featured in all three are Clarke, Kuggeleijn and Henry Cooper. Three more have played in the last two with Hampton, Carter and Pringle part of Northern's championship core.

Here are the big donnies who have played in these GF wins for Northern...

2021/22: Tim Seifert, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi
2022/23: Tim Seifert, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner
2025/26: Kristian Clarke was the only current Blackcap in the team

(Katene) Clarke has scored runs in all three GF wins...

2021/22: 71 runs @ 209sr
2022/23: 28 runs @ 165sr
2025/26: 33 runs @ 137sr

Carter has also had a sneaky role with 30* @ 158sr in 2022/23 followed by his knock this summer. Kuggeleijn had a wicket in the first two GF wins but didn't take a wicket this time around, while Pringle went from 3ov @ 9rpo in the second GF win to 1w @ 5rpo this season.

Northern were led by Jeet Raval in the first two GF wins and their mana is evident in how Raval's role dipped away this season (only played one game), with Rob O'Donnell coming in as an excellent batter and captain. The fact that Raval was retired out in his only innings of Super Smash highlights Northern's culture and with Ben Pomare playing as captain when O'Donnell was injured, the wicket-keeper showcased his emerging leadership mana.

Pringle continues to build towards the Blackcaps level, Pomare is part of a talent crop of young wicket-keepers and after battling through his first few games of Ford Trophy, Xavier Bell showcased his ability in Super Smash. Hampton and Pomare hit the same number of sixes and fours, while Bell hit 10 sixes and eight fours in his first Super Smash as well as bagging his first 50+ score at the domestic level.

Kristian Clarke has been in and out of domestic duties in recent months which isn't a recipe for consistently effective mahi. Northern also had Matt Fisher though and he had one of his best Super Smash campaigns, but the fact that Zak Gibson was Northern's most efficient bowler reflects the seam bowling depth in Aotearoa as someone always pops out to impress more than the blokes 'ranked' ahead of them.

Seamer Joshua Brown and all-rounders Fergus Lellman and Ollie White also played roles throughout the campaign. This was also BJ Watling's first Super Smash championship since taking over as Northern coach in 2023 and that looks lovely alongside the 2024/25 Plunket Shield championship. Coach Watling has led Northern to two championships in two different formats in his first three seasons - seems notable.

Northern have always enjoyed fabulous service from their Blackcaps as foundations for Super Smash success. Having a Seifert/Santner combo in Super Smash finals is always going to be a boost for example, let alone how others like de Grandhomme, Southee and Wagner can perform at this level. None of them were playing in this GF win though and the fact that Northern won without an top-tier Blackcaps player is an awesome wrinkle for their third championship in five seasons.

Northern Brave - 16 players used

Katene Clarke: 431 runs @ 61.5avg/172sr
Brett Hampton: 360 runs @ 40avg/177sr | 9w @ 31avg/9.3rpo
Rob O'Donnell: 185 runs @ 37avg/164sr
Xavier Bell: 148 runs @ 37avg/138sr
Scott Kuggeleijn: 137 runs @ 68.5avg/198sr | 17w @ 15.6avg/8.3rpo
Joe Carter: 132 runs @ 22avg/148sr
Ben Pomare: 53 runs @ 8.8avg/102sr
Tim Pringle: 42 runs @ 14avg/123sr | 10w @ 28avg/8.3rpo
Jeet Raval: 23 runs @ 23avg/82sr
Mitchell Santner: 21 runs @ 10.5avg/117sr | 1w @ 52avg/6.5rpo
Fergus Lellman: 11 runs @ 11avg/220sr | 3ov @ 10.3rpo
Matt Fisher: 1 run @ 1avg/50sr | 8w @ 26avg/7.7rpo
Joshua Brown: 1 run @ 33sr | 2w @ 35.5avg/10.1rpo
Zak Gibson: 7w @ 15.4avg/7.7rpo
Henry Cooper: 2w @ 19.5avg/7.8rpo
Kristian Clarke: 2w @ 72avg/10.2rpo
Ollie White: 1ov @ 14rpo

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Peace and love.