Super Smash

[The Professor]

One of the best things about getting next to no sleep because of a new-born baby is seeing tournaments that you wouldn't normally be able to because you're wasting it on such frivolities as sleep.

Today I caught second placed Central Districts (3W & 2L) play third placed Canterbury (1 W 1 L) .....which peaked my interest from a scheduling point of view if nothing else.

Canterbury were defeated despite the fact that, in the form of Daryl Mitchell, they had the best batsmen on display. Chasing 187, he got 71 off 46 balls after Canterbury were 1-2 early in the affair. The fact that Canterbury were only 18 points adrift at the end of the affair rests solely with Mitchell. It has been a cracking 2021 for Mitchell so far with his century in just his fourth Test.

[Alviro Patterson]

Enjoying the fact that Spark Sport have extensive coverage of Super Smash and that BT Sport have snapped it up. Some of the start times have been UK friendly. I was shocked that the Cantebury v Wellington game started at 10.10pm UK time on Friday (or 11.10am Saturday NZ time). Maybe a bit too early as the crowds built up as the game went on, even a 12noon start would be timezone friendly and gives crowds a chance to come. From personal experience, crowds for Blackcaps tests tend to peak in the afternoon session.

The Women's T20 game is of a poor standard really. Far too many sub par totals of 90-100, which does not emulate international conditions.