By Victoria Hamilton 
The 2024/25 Super Smash season concluded in thrilling fashion as Wellington Blaze and Central Stags lifted the championship trophies in their respective divisions. The tournament showcased high-intensity cricket, breakout performances, and a celebration of family legacies in New Zealand cricket.
Blaze Continue Their Dominance
Led by Melie Kerr, Wellington Blaze extended their legacy by clinching a record-breaking ninth Super Smash title—the most by any team, men’s or women’s, in the competition’s history. Kerr, fresh off being named the ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year, ended the season as the tournament’s top run-scorer across both divisions, accumulating 441 runs at an average of 63.00.
The Grand Final against Otago Sparks at the Cello Basin Reserve was a low-scoring thriller. Blaze managed to defend 104/8, holding off the Sparks for a hard-fought eight-run victory.
Despite an early setback—Rebecca Burns being run out on the first ball and both Kerr sisters dismissed cheaply—Blaze relied on their vast experience to grind out a winning total. Their bowlers, backed by tight fielding, successfully contained the Sparks, securing another Super Smash triumph.
On the bowling front, Otago’s Eden Carson finished as the top wicket-taker of the entire season with 18 scalps, followed by her teammate Kirstie Gordon and Northern Brave’s Chamari Athapaththu, each with 16 wickets. Melie and Jess Kerr weren’t far behind, finishing with 15 and 14 wickets, respectively.
Family Ties in Super Smash 2024/25
This season saw remarkable performances from two cricketing families—the Kerr sisters and Boyle brothers.
Together, they amassed an incredible 1,429 runs, with all four featuring in the Grand Finals:
- Melie Kerr (Wellington Blaze): 441 runs
- Jess Kerr (Wellington Blaze): 326 runs
- Matt Boyle (Canterbury Kings): 377 runs (Top run-scorer in the men’s competition)
- Jack Boyle (Central Stags): 285 runs
Their success continues the rich cricketing tradition in both families. The Boyle brothers are sons of former Canterbury and Wellington batter Justin Boyle and nephews of David Boyle, a well-known Canterbury opener from the 1980s. The Kerrs, meanwhile, come from a lineage of Wellington cricketers, including their parents Robbie Kerr and Jo Murray and their late grandfather Bruce “Bags” Murray, a former BLACKCAPS Test player.
Stags End Championship Drought
The Central Stags delivered a commanding performance in the men’s Super Smash Grand Final, defeating Canterbury Kings by six wickets.
After finishing top of the league, the Stags put in a dominant display in the final, comfortably chasing 135/8 to claim their first Super Smash title in seven years.
Captain Tom Bruce was pivotal, finishing the season as the second-highest run-scorer in the men’s competition with 339 runs at a 157.67 strike rate.
Meanwhile, Toby Findlay—son of former Stag Craig Findlay—had a breakthrough season. The 21-year-old seamer delivered a match-winning spell of 3/29 in the final, including the crucial wicket of Daryl Mitchell (46).
Jayden Lennox, another key player, topped the catching charts with 11 catches, alongside Otago’s Dale Phillips.
Looking Ahead
With the Super Smash season wrapped up, teams now shift focus to the Ford Trophy (men’s one-day competition) and the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (women’s one-day competition).
- The Ford Trophy resumes on February 6, with Auckland Aces and Canterbury Kings leading the standings.
- The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield continues on February 8, with Otago Sparks dominating the points table, though they must continue without their outgoing coach, Craig Cumming, who is set to join Nottingham’s Blaze in the UK.
Zainab Shafiq