Record scores in scorching summer

The big hits keep coming in the Super Smash as teams power up with record totals... so tip your cap to the on-target bowlers flying in the face of the trend with some special super statchat of their own

Both the men's and women's tables remain volatile in the mid-stages of the season, with Northern Brave moving up into the top half on both the men's and women's ladders after a big day/night out in Hamilton.

Katene Clarke led the way for the men during the afternoon with an explosive 97 from 58 balls, with a little help from his friends en route to the third highest total in the history of the competition: a cracking 240/4!

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Amazingly that was after having been sent in, but the plan backfired for the Kings, and in the women's match, under lights, bowling first did not help the beleagured Canterbury Magicians either, as Brave's 20-year-old Tash Wakelin went ballistic with her career-best 86 not out off 52 balls.

Incredibly that was rising star Wakelin's maiden T20 half century, and the fifty itself was a quick one, cracked off just 22 balls.

Tash Wakelin unleashed  PHOTOSPORT

The marooned Magicians, yet to win, were left chasing a tough 172 to win, but they didn't get close after Brave's pace ace Marama Downes had another speccy with the ball in the second innings, doing vital damage up top and finishing with a fine 4/11.

She was well supported by her fellow attack as the Mags crumbled to their lowest total against the Brave, 66 all out.

It was also the second lowest in their T20 history, behind their 59/8 versus Wellington Blaze in 2009/10.

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It's been a week of it for the stats nuffies after record totals by the Central Hinds and Magicians as well, both in the same game in Nelson; while the Brave men's 240/4 was unsurprisingly top of their own all-time list, by some 10 runs.

Clarke, who already has a career best 106 to his name, was unlucky not to hit the first men's century of the season's Smash, but he got the job done for his team from the top.

Between them, Clarke, Brett Hampton (61 off 23) and Xavier Bell (53 not out off 23 balls) slammed 18 sixes out of Seddon Park.

Then the Brave bowlers put the Canterbury line-up under pressure early - the Kings losing big early wickets to Scott Kuggeleijn and Matt Fisher.

There was a kick in the Kings' tail, but they still lost by 87 runs while the Magicians lost to the tune of a 105 on a top day for the Brave faithful. 

The men's points to date:

• Aces (4 games) 12
• Kings (4 games) 12
• Brave (4 games) 8
• Stags (5 games) 8
• Firebirds (5 games) 6
• Volts (4 games) 6

The women's points to date (includes bonus points):

• Hinds (5 games) 15
• Blaze (5 games) 14
• Brave (4 games) 11
• Sparks (4 games) 10
• Hearts (4 games) 10
• Magicians (4 games) 2

•••

As the Super Smash continues to entertain with the big hits across January, catch every ball live and free in New Zealand on TVNZ+ and TVNZ Duke, with livescoring at www.nzc.nz

Coming up:

• Wellington, Friday 9 January: Wellington Blaze & Firebirds v Sparks & Volts
• Christchurch, Saturday 10 January: Canterbury Magicians & Kings v Auckland Hearts & Aces
• Wellington, Sunday 11 January: Wellington Blaze & Firebirds v Northern Brave
• Dunedin, Monday 12 January: Sparks & Volts v Auckland Hearts & Aces
• Napier, Tuesday 13 January: Central Hinds & Stags v Northern Brave