Auckland Aces Set to Face Northern Districts

The 2024-25 Super Smash kicks off on Boxing Day with a thrilling encounter between defending champions Auckland Aces and Northern Districts, the winners of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. The men's opening match will take place at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Earlier that day, the women’s Super Smash will begin with Northern Brave facing Auckland Hearts at the same venue.

Wellington Blaze, the reigning women’s champions, will start their quest for a record ninth Super Smash title when they face Northern Brave in Hamilton on New Year’s Day.

Last year’s men's runners-up, Canterbury Kings, will launch their campaign on the second day of the tournament, playing against Otago Volts in Alexandra. Meanwhile, Central Hinds, the previous season’s women’s finalists, will take on Otago Sparks in their opening match on December 31.

The Super Smash tournament, running from December 26 to February 2, will feature 64 matches across 10 venues in New Zealand, with both men's and women's teams playing in 32 double-header fixtures.

For the first time, the competition’s finals will be held at a predetermined venue. The Basin Reserve in Wellington will host both the men's and women's elimination finals on February 1, followed by the tournament finals on February 2.

NZC CEO Scott Weenink highlighted the growing popularity of the Super Smash, stating that it provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase cricket to fans across the country. He noted that with over 1.3 million viewers tuning in last year, the tournament has quickly become New Zealand's favourite summer domestic competition. He expressed excitement for the upcoming season and hopes to see even greater engagement this year.

The Super Smash will run alongside New Zealand's men's white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which includes T20Is and ODIs from December to January 11. Meanwhile, the New Zealand women’s players are expected to participate in the entire Super Smash season.