Auckland Aces ring changes as they head into playoff hunt

The Auckland Aces are ramping up ahead of tomorrow’s match against the Otago Volts at Eden Park Outer Oval.

Coming off a six-wicket win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday; the Aces are growing in confidence.

All-rounder Colin Munro said after the match against the Firebirds "This format of the game is all about momentum, we started really well in Dunedin and could have gone on to win.”

“If we can get a win on Sunday that puts us in a good position."

The BLACKCAPS re-forming for the ODI series against India has forced plenty of changes to the Aces side.

Changes include welcoming English county T20 batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond into the side.

Auckland Aces coach Mark O’Donnell said of Bell-Drummond’s inclusion: “With none of our BLACKCAPS available in the latter part of the competition, we were looking for an experienced T20 player.

“It was very fortunate that Daniel was already in Australia and we were able to get him at pretty short notice.”

Bell-Drummond has played 74 T20 matches for Kent, has a high score of 112* and a strike-rate of 133.12.

The Aces and the Volts both sit at 12 points on the Super-Smash ladder, with the Aces third due to superior run-rate. Depending on the result of the match tonight between the Stags and the Kings, a win tomorrow could propel the Aces into second spot.

“We’re starting to come right and the time you want to come right,” says O’Donnell.

“We have three home games out of four left in the round-robin, and we’ve been putting in the work as a squad.

“In the past couple of matches we’ve shown ourselves what we can do, as well as everyone else.”

The Auckland Aces will play the Otago Volts in the Burger King Super Smash at Eden Park Outer Oval on Sunday 19 January from 12:45pm.

The Women’s Super Smash final between the Wellington Blaze and Canterbury Magicians will follow immediately after at 4:00pm.

Both games will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Auckland Hearts batsman Katie Perkins is collecting non-perishable food items to stock her Pātaka Kai (community pantry) in Manurewa. All donations will be gratefully accepted at the gate.

Auckland Aces squad to play the Otago Volts
Craig Cachopa (C)
Graeme Beghin
Daniel Bell-Drummond
Mark Chapman
Donovan Grobbelaar
Roneel Hira
Ben Horne (WK)
Ben Lister
Mitchell McClenaghan
Robert O’Donnell
Glenn Phillips
Matthew Quinn
Will Somerville

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