Test cricket is approaching with the New Zealand vs South Africa Test series to start in a week's time at Bay Oval before heading down the highway to Seddon Park for the second Test.
Super Smash finals go down this weekend with the elimination finals to be played on Friday in Hamilton, followed by the grand final in Auckland on Sunday.
Otago host Northern Districts in the last game day of Super Smash before finals and this offers a lovely juncture to check in with the best youngsters across both competitions.
Since the mid-series check in, New Zealand's Blackcaps won two more T20Is to wrap up the series against Pakistan before a niggly loss in the final encounter.
The Auckland vs Northern Districts derby played out in tune with the respective Super Smash ladders as the Brave wahine defeated Hearts, while the Aces were too good for the Brave men.
Otago Sparks were too good for Central Hinds in Dunedin before the Otago lads and Central Districts battled out a draw, which keeps the CD Stags in the mix for Super Smash finals.
Northern Districts snuck in a win over Canterbury to keep themselves in the mix for Women's Super Smash finals before the blokes from Canterbury brushed aside ND as they continue to push towards finals.
Super Smash finals are looming with a few more games to play and finals spots up for grabs, so now is a lovely time to check in with the best Blackcaps and White Ferns.
Two games into the T20I series with Pakistan and Blackcaps have two wins plus a pesky injury to Kane Williamson.
Amelia Kerr's emergence as Aotearoa's best wahine cricketer was on display once again as Wellington Blaze and Firebirds enjoyed two wins over Canterbury.
Central Districts and Otago split their encounter in Napier with a win each as Suzie's Sparks were too good for their hosts and Will Young went large to lead the Stags to victory.
For the third Super Smash game day in a row, the away team enjoyed two wins over their hosts after Wellington did the double against Central Districts in Napier.
Auckland ran rampant to snatch the soul out of Hagley Oval with two wins over Canterbury.
Otago snatched two wins away from Northern Districts on their mission to Seddon Park in Hamilton with the Sparks and Volts combining to lose just 3 wickets across both games.
Super Smash Scout delivers three of the best youngsters in Aotearoa's T20 competition
Canterbury took their turn to invade Alexandra and snatch two wins away from the hosts Otago.
After being brushed aside by the two Wellington teams in Alexandra, Otago bounced back with two wins over Auckland in front of their faithful fans.
Blackcaps salvaged their T20I series against Bangladesh with a win in the third game aided by rain, drawing the series level at 1-1.
Central Districts won their women's game against Canterbury which was impacted by rain, but the Canterbury blokes returned the favour with a win in their full 20-over encounter.
A glorious wave of Test cricket is looming on the horizon in Aotearoa with South Africa and Australia lined up for World Test Championship fixtures starting in early February.