Young Wellington Firebirds opener Tim Robinson’s breakthrough innings helped the defending champions to pull off a last-over win against the Otago Volts in the men’s Super Smash in Queenstown. He played a fiery knock of 65 off 49 balls in only his fifth Super Amish match as the Firebirds snapped a three-game losing streak to climb off the bottom and leapfrog the Volts, who suffered their third defeat in a row at the John Davies Oval. However, a superb cameo from Nathan Smith (38* off 18) finished the job in the final overs.
Robinson brought up his first Super Smash 50 in 37 balls with a clip-over fine leg for a boundary but was out in the 18th over to Anaru Kitchen after being dropped by Nick Kelly on 57. The Firebirds needed nine from the final over, bowled by Otago paceman Jacob Duffy, and Nathan Smith lobbed an astonishing six over Volts wicketkeeper Max Chu’s head off the first ball.
ALSO READ: Harsha Bhogle Picks Just One Indian Players In His T20 XI Of 2021
Here is the video of the shot:
https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1475698238590054403?s=20
Nathan Smith then smacked another over the leg side to earn Wellington a five-wicket victory with four balls remaining. Both teams were desperate to get a second win to boost their play-off hopes. The Wellington Firebirds improved their record to 2-3, while Otago lost their fourth match from six despite a brilliant performance from Volts spinner Michael Rippon (2-24).
WATCH – Sean Abbott Takes A Stunning One-handed Catch In A BBL Game
Nathan Smith hit four sixes in the final overs to earn Wellington a five-wicket win against Otago in Queenstown. Neesham (2-17) bowled an impressive spell, but Kitchen was the star of the first innings, smashing five fours and three sixes. In reply, Black Caps opener Finn Allen (32 off 13) threatened to go big for Wellington but chipped Matt Bacon to midwicket in the third over.
Otago won the toss and batted first but lost four wickets in four overs after a decent start in the powerplay in which they lost Rutherford for 12. Otago reached 166-7 and had the Firebirds in trouble until Smith’s four sixes hurt them in the final overs.
