Pukekura Park to host T20 games

 

Will Johnston

 

Pukekura Park’s iconic terraces will be jammed packed again this summer as the Central Stags and Central Hinds will host six domestic twenty20 matches this summer.

 The Central Districts men’s and women’s home matches will be shared between Pukekura Park and McLean Park in Napier, after the SuperSmash and international draws were announced by New Zealand Cricket today.

 While the domestic competition starts on Thursday, December 24 in Wellington, the teams will play their first home match against the Wellington Blaze and Firebirds in Napier on Sunday, December 27. Pukekura Park’s first Twenty20 match is on Wednesday, December 30 when the Hinds and Stags host the Northern Spirit and Knights in a double header.

 A day later, the Auckland Hearts and Aces travel to New Plymouth in another double header. On both days, the women’s matches start at 10:10am and men’s at 1:40pm and will be televised on Spark Sport and free-to-air on TVNZ1.

 After two weeks on the road, the Hinds and Stags return to Pukekura Park for another double header against the Otago Sparks and Volts on Monday, January 18 starting at 12:30pm and 4pm respectively.

 Central Districts Cricket chief executive Pete de Wet said it’s a busy and exciting programme again for both the flagship teams this summer.

 “We are excited to be hosting a total of five double headers across the holiday season.

 “We received excellent feedback from our supporters last season after the inaugural double header at McLean Park and again at Pukekura Park, where there was a bonanza of entertainment on show and the traditional atmosphere of the terraces.”

 He said the Central Hinds relished the opportunity to play in front of the Taranaki crowd, with a 22-run win against a strong Hearts side.

 “There can be few sporting spectacles in New Zealand that offer as great value for money as our Super Smash double headers, at a time of year when we can all take some time to relaxed with our families and friends.”

 The two-month competition will have 50 matches broadcast on Spark Sport with a selection on TVNZ1 and TVNZ Duke. All but one Central Districts double header will be televised.

 Head of Spark Sport Jeff Latch said his organisation was delighted with the schedule and was looking forward to broadcasting a vast majority of the SuperSmash competition.

 “We are incredible excited to be in a position to let our customers know of the packed summer of cricket scheduled on Spark Sport with selected matches on TVNZ.”

 He said Spark Sport would be streaming all Blackcaps and White Ferns matches and encourages fans to get their streaming set-up sorted and match fit when the international season starts on November 27.

 TVNZ director of content Cate Slater said TVNZ was thrilled to be sharing men’s and women’s SuperSmash matches weekly with the international matches.

 “It has been decades since cricket of this calibre was free-to-air on television in New Zealand and we know that New Zealanders will love this addition to our summer schedule.”

 The SuperSmash final will be played on Saturday, February 13 with the elimination final two days before.

 The one-day and three-day draws are yet to be released and Pukekura Park is expected to host several Central Stags and Hinds matches over the summer in other formats.

 SuperSmash Pukekura Park fixtures 2020/21:

 Wed 30 Dec: Central Hinds v Northern Spirit, Pukekura Park, 10:10am **

Wed 30 Dec: Central Stags v Northern Knights, Pukekura Park, 1:40pm **

Thurs 31 Dec: Central Hinds v Auckland Hearts, Pukekura Park, 10:10am **

Thurs 31 Dec: Central Stags v Auckland Aces, Pukekura Park, 1:40pm **

Mon 18 Jan: Central Hinds v Otago Sparks, Pukekura Park, 12:30pm

Mon 18 Jan: Central Stags v Otago Volts, Pukekura Park, 4:00pm

** Spark Sport and TVNZ1