Live Super Smash Twenty20 cricket updates: Central Stags v Auckland Aces

A dominant batting display has put the Central Stags atop the men's domestic Super Smash Twenty20 competition to begin the new year.

A 70-run victory over the Auckland Aces followed a 45-run win over the Northern Knights a day earlier to see the Stags move to 2-1, and take top spot over the 2-0 Wellington Firebirds, via net run rate.

Today, a blistering 78 off 31 balls from Josh Clarkson featured five fours and six sixes, and was a superb complement to opener George Worker's 79 off 46 deliveries, which also saw him reach the rope 11 times as the Stags racked up 226-8 batting first against Auckland.

Despite superb returns from Ben Lister (3-21 from four overs) and Will Somverville (2-21 from four), the remainder of the Aces bowlers were feasted upon by Clarkson and Worker, with their other four bowlers all being shellacked for run rates of over 12.5, for combined figures of 1-180 from 12 overs.

Even on the small boundaries of Pukekura Park, it led to a fearsome total for the Aces to chase, and despite a promising 42 from 22 balls from Black Cap Glenn Phillips, perhaps batting too low at number four, the O'Donnell brothers – William, with an extremely unhelpful 28 from 30 balls, and Robert's 39 from 21 – were the only other batsmen to pass 12.

Central Stags bowler Blair Tickner celebrates a wicket. Photo / Photosport

Clarkson and Worker both picked up a wicket apiece, ending their 2020 campaign on a high after both had also contributed in their victory over the Knights, with Worker making a 42-ball 71, and Clarkson 25 from 13 balls.

Central's win dropped the Aces to 0-3, a record also held by the Central Hinds in the women's Super Smash, after they fell to an eight-run defeat to the Auckland Hearts.

Lauren Down's unbeaten 63 from 64 balls was the anchor of Auckland's 158-2, most notably assisted by Anna Peterson's 41 off 22 as the pair added 80 for the opening wicket.

Jess Watkin was the pick of the Hinds bowlers with 2-27 from her four overs as the Hinds pulled the Hearts back to a moderately attainable total, but they couldn't deliver with the bat.

Hannah Rowe (44 from 46) and Natalie Dodd (28 from 28) gave the hosts a sniff, but both were too slow for what the equation required, despite being aided by 17 wides from the Hearts bowlers.

Peterson tied them down, conceding 16 runs from her four overs, while Arlene Kelly claimed 4-28 as the Hearts moved to 2-1.

The competition-leading Wellington Blaze welcome in the new year against the Northern Spirit in Mount Maunganui tomorrow afternoon, before the Firebirds host the Knights in the second game of the double-header at night.