The Wellington Firebirds will be boosted by the return of BLACKCAP Tom Blundell for tomorrow’s Dream11 Super Smash clash with the Knights at the Basin Reserve.

The Test opener returns to the side following the BLACKCAPS successful Test series victories over the West Indies and Pakistan and will make his first appearance of this year’s Dream11 Super Smash competition.

Blundell slots into a powerful Firebirds top order which boasts the in-form Finn Allen, as well as BLACKCAPS Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham.

“It’s really exciting to be able to bring a player of Tom’s calibre back into the side, especially when the side is in good form and gaining some strong momentum heading into the crunch part of the competition,” said Firebirds head coach Glenn Pocknall.

“He will add even more depth to our batting order which has performed well and posted competitive totals so far in the tournament and that should help us build on what has been a good start.”

Firebirds opener Finn Allen will be looking to build on his impressive start to the competition at the top of the order.

The 21-year-old has scored 155 runs from three innings at an average of 77, including a memorable 91 not out last time out.

Fraser Colson and Iain McPeake drop out of the squad that beat the Knights by nine wickets on New Year’s Day.

The Wellington Blaze will be looking to return to winning ways when they face the Northern Spirit in the opening match of tomorrow’s Super Smash double-header.

The defending champions were dealt a shock final ball loss at the hands of the Spirit on New Year’s Day – their first Super Smash loss since 2018.

Blaze head coach Ivan Tissera said the side were fully focused on making up for the loss tomorrow.

“It was obviously disappointing to come away with a defeat on New Year’s Day, but the team haven’t lost confidence and are concentrating on putting in a strong performance tomorrow,” he said.

“We are looking at the positives and know that a loss will help us refocus and work even harder, so we will be ready tomorrow.”

The Blaze make two changes to the New Year’s Day squad – Deanna Doughty comes in for Georgia Plimmer who is away at the National Under 19 tournament in Lincoln and allrounder Olivia Boivin has also been added to the squad.

Tomorrow’s event is a very special Dream11 Super Smash double-header as Cricket Wellington partner with the Women’s Refuge to promote their Safe Night initiative which aims to provide safe shelter for women and children who have been subject to domestic and family violence.

Spectator entry is free and every $20 donated on the day will count towards the target of 500 Safe Nights.

Play gets underway from 11.40am.

Wellington Blaze squad | Dream11 Super Smash | v Northern Spirit
Maddy Green (c)
Olivia Boivin
Rebecca Burns
Deanna Doughty
Xara Jetly
Leigh Kasperek
Amelia Kerr
Jess Kerr
Caitlin King
Jess McFadyen
Beth Molony
Thamsyn Newton
Maneka Singh

Wellington Firebirds squad | Dream11 Super Smash | v Knights
Michael Bracewell (c)
Finn Allen
Hamish Bennett
Tom Blundell
Devon Conway
Jamie Gibson
Troy Johnson
Jimmy Neesham
Rachin Ravindra
Ben Sears
Logan Van Beek
Peter Younghusband

Dream11 Super Smash presented by KFC
Wellington v Northern Districts
Saturday 9 January 2021

Wellington Blaze v Northern Spirit | 11.40am
Wellington Firebirds v Knights | 3.10pm
Basin Reserve, Wellington

Article added: Friday 08 January 2021