The 18th match of the tournament will be played between Central Districts and Northern Knights in the venues of McLean Park, Napier. The match will commence tomorrow at 10:25 AM. Northern Knights is positioned in the middle of the table, while Central Districts is at last second. A possible win here can impact standings in a crucial way midway through tournament.

 

Central Districts (CD)

 

The Centrals have played 5 matches, of which they have won 2 and lost 3. They have shown their fighting qualities in their last match, in which, chasing a target, they emerged victorious by 2 runs. Cleaver and Bruce were their best batters as both of them scored half-centuries. Foxcroft also gave a rapid start to the innings. With the ball, Randell and Schaw bagged two wickets, while Findlay and Foxcroft picked one each. CD will rely on their top order and disciplined seam attack to control this contest.

 

Northern Knights (NK)

 

Northern Knights have played 5 matches as well and managed to win 2, lose 1, and get a no result in the other. Their batters stole the show in the last match Clarke and Hampton providing explosive knocks to complete the successful run chase. Kuggeleijn played a key role with the ball, picking up three wickets. They are a dangerous side as they have a balanced side who can perform well in any given condition.

 

CD vs NK Match Details

 

CD vs NK Super Smash Match Details
Match	Central Districts vs Northern Knights 18th Match
Date and Time	Tuesday, January 13; 10:25 a.m. IST
Venue	McLean Park, Napier
Broadcasting and live streaming	TV-NA; Livestream-FanCode/SonyLIV

 

CD vs NK Pitch Report

 

McLean Park has produced an average first innings score of 158 in 2025. It seems that fast bowlers will dominate due to the surface offering good carry as well as seam movement. Spinners will have to remain disciplined with tight lengths if they are to extract anything. Batters have to set their eyes early, but they can score freely once they are in, making conditions fair for both departments.

 

CD vs NK Weather Report

 

It is expected to be warm in the evening with the temperature ranging between 24-27 degrees Celsius. Humidity will be moderately present, while the wind speed is reasonable enough to provide a clean atmosphere for playing without any major interruptions expected.

 

CD vs NK Head-to-Head Records

 

CD vs NK head-to-head (in T20s)
Match Played	37
Won by Central Districts	16
Won by Northern Knights	19
Tied	0
No Result	2

 

CD vs NK 18th T20 Super Smash Probable XI

 

• Central Districts: Tom Bruce (c), Curtis Heaphy, Dane Cleaver (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Sam Cassidy, Mason Hughes, Angus Schaw, Brett Randell, Raymond Toole, Ajaz Patel, Toby Findlay

 

• Northern Knights: Katene D Clarke, Brett Hampton, Ben Pomare (wk/c), Xavier Bell, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Pringle, Henry Cooper, Fergus Lellman, Joshua Brown, Matthew Fisher

 

Players To Watch Out For In the CD vs NK 18th T20 Super Smash Match

 

• Dane Cleaver | CD: Dane Cleaver has been consistently a top-order performer throughout his innings, scoring 212 runs in 5 innings at an average of 42.40 with a strike rate of 158.21. His anchoring and accelerating ability makes him a vital cog for CD.

 

• Brett Hampton | NK: Brett Hampton is in marvelous form with the bat, making 208 runs in 4 innings at an average of 52.00 and a blasting strike rate of 179.31. His aggressive approach in the middle overs makes NK a strong chasing side.

 

• Scott Kuggeleijn | NK: Scott Kuggeleijn has impacted with the ball. He bowled 18 overs, gave away 108 runs, and took 8 wickets at 19.25. His ability to strike in crucial overs gives NK good balance in their bowling attack.

 

CD vs NK Toss Prediction

 

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

 

• In the last three T20 matches played at this venue, the teams that won the toss have opted to bowl first in all three matches.

 

Advantages of bowling first on This Pitch

 

• In 15 men's T20 matches played at this venue so far, the team batting first has recorded 11 victories, while the team chasing has won in 4 matches. This trends suggsts that opting to bat first would be a better option for the toss-winning team.

 

CD vs NK Today's Match Scenario

 

Scenario 1

 

• Toss Winner: CD (opts to bat first)


• Power-Play Score: 40-45


• CD Total: 155-170


• Match Winner: Northern Knights

 

Scenario 2

 

• Toss Winner: NK (opts to bowl first)


• Power-Play Score: 40-45


• NK Total: 165-180


• Match Winner: Northern Knights

 

Who will win today's CD vs NK 18th T20 match?

 

The Northern Knights go into this match in slightly better form and with a more explosive batting unit, while the Central Districts will depend on their batting depth and their seamers to keep them competitive. Given current momentum and form of both teams in recent times, NK will have a slight edge, however can turn around if CD's top-order fires early. All in all, Northern Knights appear to be marginal favorites going into this contest.