By Victoria Hamilton 
The Canterbury Kings delivered a bowlers’ masterclass to dismantle Northern Brave in the Super Smash Elimination Final, securing their place in the Grand Final for the fifth consecutive season. On a lively surface at Cello Basin Reserve, the Kings’ seam attack ripped through Brave’s batting lineup, restricting them to just 110/9 before chasing down the target with ease in 13.1 overs.
Matt Henry’s Magical Spell Sets the Tone
Returning BLACKCAPS pacer Matt Henry produced a stunning spell of 4-3-2-2, nearly achieving the rare feat of bowling four consecutive maidens in T20 cricket. His opening over was a maiden, followed by a wicket maiden, where he dismissed the in-form Katene Clarke, courtesy of a juggling Daryl Mitchell catch.
Henry continued his dominance, removing Robbie O’Donnell with another wicket maiden in his third over. By the time Brave managed to score off him, they were already in deep trouble at 7/4 inside five overs.
Kyle Jamieson (3/19) complemented Henry’s efforts by striking thrice in the powerplay, while Henry Shipley (3/17) added to Brave’s misery later in the innings, putting himself on an unconverted hat-trick.
Despite a gritty 45 from Jeet Raval, Brave could only muster 110/9 in 20 overs, managing just a dozen boundaries and a lone Neil Wagner six, which was immediately followed by his dismissal.
Kings Cruise to Victory Despite Early Setback
Chasing a modest 111 for victory, Canterbury suffered an early scare as Kristian Clarke dismissed Matt Hay for a duck in the first over. However, a composed knock from Chad Bowes (33 off 35)* and a blistering 48 off 25 balls from Matt Boyle ensured there were no further hiccups.
Boyle’s aggressive stroke play (7 fours, 2 sixes) put the Kings well ahead of the required rate, and they comfortably crossed the finish line in 13.1 overs, sealing a comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Grand Final Showdown: Kings vs. Stags for T20 Glory
With this dominant performance, the Canterbury Kings march into the Super Smash Grand Final, where they will face the Central Stags. The Kings have reached the final five seasons in a row, but their last T20 title victory dates back 19 years to the inaugural season.
The stage is now set for an explosive Grand Final as the Kings look for redemption against a Stags side that defeated them in the regular season.
Zainab Shafiq