Wellington Firebirds 122 all out in 18.2 overs (Colin Munro 4-15, Mitchell McClenaghan 3-32, Adam Hose 38) lost to Auckland Aces (Mark Chapman 47*, Colin Munro 41) by six wickets at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
A storming performance with the bat and ball from Colin Munro led the Auckland Aces to a six wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds in the BK Super Smash at the Basin Reserve today.
Munro, who joins the BLACKCAPS over the weekend for the upcoming series against India, helped stop the Firebirds in their tracks when they seemed set for a huge score with a spell of 4-15, then came out swinging with the bat to strike 41 from 34 balls.
"My role is usually to come on and bowl one or two overs and pick up a sneaky wicket, but today just went my way, and I'm very happy to contribute to a good team performance in the field," said Munro.
The Firebirds were flying at almost ten an over until Mitchell McClenaghan (3-32) got the dangerous Michael Bracewell for 27 from 14 in the fifth, and Roneel Hira (2-22) took his opening partner Devon Conway for 33 four overs later.
Adam Hose (38) was the only batsman from there that got to grips with a pitch playing low in the bright sunshine - from 107-5, the Firebirds slumped to 122 all out, thanks to fine bowling, and a complete team performance in the field.
Martin Guptill got a leading edge to Ollie Newton's first ball of the innings and was caught by Bracewell for a duck - after losing Glenn Phillips for 10, Munro and Mark Chapman combined for 71 runs for the third wicket to get the Aces close, thanks to some watchful batting and powerful hitting.
Logan van Beek took a special catch at point to remove Munro for 41, but by then the damage had been done, and Chapman (47*) and Robbie O'Donnell (18*) saw the Aces home, with the win taking them to third place on the ladder.
Despite leaving the group to join the BLACKCAPS, Munro is sure the Aces can build from here. "This format of the game is all about momentum, we started really well in Dunedin and could have gone on to win - we've won today and if we can get a win on Sunday, that puts us in a good position," said Munro.
