Wellington vs Northern Districts – Super Smash 2026 Match Preview, Pitch Report, Fantasy Tips & Key Players

The Super Smash T20 2026 moves to the iconic Basin Reserve, Wellington, where Wellington Firebirds take on a red-hot Northern Districts side. Northern Districts come into this match after smashing 240 runs in their last game, while Wellington will be eager to bounce back after a close loss to Otago.

With the Basin Reserve offering massive assistance to fast bowlers and all-rounders in peak form, this clash is set to be one of the most fantasy-friendly matches of the tournament.

Match Details

• Match: Wellington vs Northern Districts – Super Smash T20
• Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington
• Date: 11 January 2026
• Time: 8:55 AM IST | 4:25 PM NZDT

Weather Report – Basin Reserve

Wellington’s famous wind will once again play a major role.

• Temperature: 18–20°C
• Wind: Strong breeze expected
• Rain: No major threat

Weather Impact: The wind helps swing bowlers early and makes hitting sixes difficult. Batters often struggle against the breeze, especially while chasing.

Pitch Report – Basin Reserve, Wellington

Basin Reserve has turned into a fast-bowler’s paradise in recent Super Smash seasons.

• Average first-innings score: 156
• Wickets by pacers (last 5 matches): 42
• Wickets by spinners (last 5 matches): 9

Pitch Insight: The pitch offers bounce, seam movement, and help from the wind. Pacers are taking nearly five times more wickets than spinners, making fast bowlers and seam-bowling all-rounders the best fantasy investments.

Team Analysis

Wellington Firebirds

Wellington rely heavily on their pace attack and all-round depth.

• Rachin Ravindra – Opens the batting and bowls key overs
• Tom Blundell – Consistent top-order run scorer
• Logan van Beek – Death-over specialist
• Ben Sears – Express pace, ideal for this pitch
• Jesse Tashkoff – Averaging 90+ fantasy points recently

Strength: Swing bowlers + multi-skill players

Northern Districts

Northern Districts arrive with huge momentum.

• Katene Clarke – Explosive opener (97 in last match)
• Brett Hampton – Fantasy superstar (187 avg points)
• Scott Kuggeleijn – Power-hitting pace all-rounder
• Matthew Fisher – Strike fast bowler
• Tim Pringle – Spin option but pace will dominate

Strength: Pace all-rounders + aggressive batting

Top Fantasy Picks

• Rachin Ravindra (WF) – Bat + bowl = guaranteed points
• Brett Hampton (ND) – One of the best fantasy performers in Super Smash
• Scott Kuggeleijn (ND) – Perfect for pace-friendly conditions
• Logan van Beek (WF) – Wicket-taker at the death
• Katene Clarke (ND) – Powerplay run-machine

Captain & Vice-Captain Options

Safe Picks: Rachin Ravindra, Brett Hampton

High-Risk / High-Reward: Scott Kuggeleijn, Logan van Beek, Katene Clarke

Fantasy Strategy – WF vs ND

• Load your team with fast bowlers and pace all-rounders
• Avoid stacking spinners – Basin Reserve heavily favors seam
• Pick top-order batters who face most deliveries
• All-rounders provide the highest fantasy safety