Northern Districts will clash against Auckland Aces in the opening match of their Super Smash T20 2025-26 campaign. The game is scheduled to take place at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Friday, 26th December. 

 

Northern Districts

 

The Districts had a decent season in the tournament last term, where they got eliminated in the Eliminators at the hands of Canterbury. They will be back in the new season with fresh energy and determined to defend their crown after winning their maiden title in 2023-24. With already some notable names in the squad, the newer addition will boost the squad's strength this time. Rashid Khan is set to lead the side once again. Katene Clarke was their leading run-scorer with 282 runs in eight games; he will be seen taking the batting duties yet again under the leadership of Jeet Raval. While Neil Wagner can be seen leading the pace attack.

 

Auckland

 

Auckland will be back in the fresh season with their determined motive to deliver a better performance this season after a disappointing season last year. Auckland had their worst campaign in the tournament last season, finishing at the bottom of the points table, and they won just three out of their ten games, having the lowest number of wins. Aiden Markram is set to lead the side once again, will be aiming to give a strong start to the team this year. The batting unit features some prominent names, including Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, and Bevon-John Jacobs. While the bowling unit will be featuringJock McKenzie, Will O’Donnell.

 

ND vs AUCK Match Details

 

ND vs AUCK Super Smash Match Details
Match	Northern Districts vs Auckland 1st Match
Date and Time	Friday, December 26; 6:40 p.m. IST
Venue	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Broadcasting and live streaming	TV-NA; Livestream-FanCode

 

ND vs AUCK Pitch Report

 

The surface at Seddon Park has traditionally favoured batters throughout the years. It’s a good track that helps the pacers with the new ball, while the batters will take the assault after spending some time at the crease. As the ball gets older, the pacers might test the batters with hard length bowls and slow deliveries. The average expected score is likely to be somewhere around 170-185.

 

ND vs AUCK Weather Report

 

The weather is expected to remain partially cloudy throughout the match, with warm and pleasant weather in the evening. The temperature is likely to be around 24-27°C. No rain is predicted for this match. 

 

ND vs AUCK Head-to-Head Records

 

ND vs AUCK head-to-head (in T20s)
Match Played	34
Won by Northern Districts	19
Won by Auckland	15
Tied	0
No Result	0

 

ND vs AUCK 1st T20 Super Smash Probable XI

 

• Northern Districts: Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Brett Hampton, Scott Johnston, Scott Kuggeleijn, Fergus Lellman, Mitchell Santner, Jeet Raval (c), Neil Wagner, Josh Brown.

 

• Auckland: Sid Dixit, Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, Bevon-John Jacobs, Simon Keene, Jock McKenzie, Will O’Donnell, Angus Olliver, Dale Phillips, Sean Solia (c), Lachie Stackpole, Mark Chapman.

 

Players To Watch Out For In the ND vs AUCK 1st T20 Super Smash Match

 

• Katene Clarke| ND: One of the best players of pace, and is one of the crucial players in the team. His ability to play aggressive stroke shots under pressure is what makes him stand out from the rest. He was a standout performer last season, scoring 282 runs in just 8 innings, including one century and one half-century. He will be a player to watch out for in this game.

 

• Jock McKenzie | AUCK: The 24-year-old all-rounder can contribute with his batting and bowling in high-stakes matches. He had scored 134 runs last season and also grabbed 13 wickets at a bowling strike rate of just 12. Hence, he is surely a player to watch out for in this match.

 

ND vs AUCK Toss Prediction

 

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

 

• In the last two T20 matches played at this venue, the teams that won the toss have opted to bat and bowl once.

 

Advantages of Batting First on This Pitch

 

• In 83 men's T20 matches played at this venue so far, the team batting first has recorded 43 victories, while the team chasing has won in 36 matches. This trend suggests that teams should prefer to bat first and focus on posting a challenging total on the scoreboard.

 

ND vs AUCK Today's Match Scenario

 

Scenario 1

 

• Toss Winner: ND (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 40-42
• ND Total: 150-170
• Match Winner: Auckland

 

Scenario 2

 

• Toss Winner: Auckland (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 40-45
• Auckland Total: 165-175
• Match Winner: Auckland

 

Who will win today's ND vs AUCK 1st T20 match?

 

Both teams will be aiming for a strong start to their new season as they are equipped with a strong batting lineup, middle-order strength and bowling depth. However, Auckland will have an upper hand going into this match and is likely to win this match, and they have also won two out of the last five face-offs against the Northern Districts.