The recently concluded 2024-25 Women’s Super Smash delivered the promise of discovering new hidden gems from New Zealand’s domestic circuit through numerous low-scoring thrillers throughout the 2024-2025 season. The likes of Kate Anderson, who had impressive all-round returns in the tournament, is one of the notable absentees as the Super Smash have revealed their Team of the Tournament. The line-up features players who excelled in their respective departments throughout the recently concluded edition of the tournament.
Women’s Super Smash Team of the Season 2024-2025:
Melie Kerr (C) [Wellington Blaze]:
The dynamic skipper led her side to a remarkable 9th title triumph by edging out Hayley Jensen’s led Otago Sparks by 8 runs in their 8th consecutive appearance in the final in the history of the tournament. Melie truly shone as the driving force of the Blaze, finishing as both the team and tournament’s leading run-scorer. Over 12 innings, she amassed an impressive 441 runs at a strike rate of 108.62, boasting an extraordinary average of 63. Among her standout moments was a sensational unbeaten 75 off 60 balls against Auckland on January 20, 2025, showcasing her flair and determination.
But Kerr’s prowess wasn’t limited to the bat; she also excelled with the ball. Leading the Blaze in wicket-taking charts, she claimed 15 scalps, making her the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with an average of 17.40 and an economy rate of 6.06 in 11 innings. Her best bowling figures, an impressive 4 wickets for 18 runs against the Northern Brave on January 1, 2025, demonstrated her all-around brilliance. She’ll be leading the Super Smash Team of the Tournament and opening the innings alongside the Brave skipper Jess Watkin.
Jess Watkin [Northern Brave]:
The 26-year-old batting all-rounder Jess Watkin as a skipper led from the front displaying her all-round prowess and was instrumental in her side’s 4th position finish in the league stages of the tournament with 22 points from four victories, including three washed-out games. However, their campaign came to an end courtesy of their 23-run defeat in the Eliminator against the eventual champions of the tournament Wellington Blaze.
She was the 3rd highest run-scorer for the Brave with 208 runs at a sensational strike rate of 142.46 and an average of 26 in 9 innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. Her tally of runs included an unbeaten half-century (51* off 32 balls) against Central Hinds on 6th January 2025.
Besides her exploits with the bat, she was also the 3rd highest wicket-taker with the ball, returning with seven wickets at an economy of 7.04 in 9 innings for the Brave in the tournament. She will be opening the innings alongside the Wellington Blaze skipper Melie in this line-up of the tournament.
Chamari Athapaththu [Northern Brave]:
The dynamic Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu delivered a spectacular all-round performance for the Northern Brave. Her contributions not only bolstered her team’s efforts but also earned her a well-deserved spot in the Super Smash Team of the Tournament for the 2024-2025 season.
She showcased her batting prowess by emerging as the leading run-scorer for the Northern Brave, amassing an impressive 219 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 134.35. Across seven innings, she maintained an average of 31.28, highlighting her consistency and ability to perform under pressure. Her standout moment came on January 13, 2025, against the Auckland Hearts, where she dazzled fans with a stellar half-century, scoring 71 runs off just 52 balls.
Apart from her exploits with the bat, she also excelled with the ball, finishing as the leading wicket-taker for her team and the third highest in the tournament overall, collecting 15 wickets at an exceptional average of 11.33 and a tight economy of 5.48 over eight innings. Her most impressive bowling display came on January 6, 2025, when she tore through the Central Hinds lineup with phenomenal figures of 4 wickets for just 16 runs in her four-over spell at Saxton Oval, Nelson.
Maddy Green [Auckland Hearts]:
The veteran 32-year-old batting all-rounder as a skipper played a crucial role in her side’s success in the tournament. She led her side to a 3rd position finish, fetching 22 points from five victories and a washout game from their campaign in the league stages of the tournament. She ended the tournament as the 2nd highest run-scorer for the Hearts and overall, the 5th highest run-scorer of the tournament with 269 runs at a strike rate of 107.60 and an impressive average of 33.62 in 9 innings with the bat for her side. Her best performance with the bat for her side in the tournament came on 15th January 2025 against Central Hinds when she scored a brilliant half-century (57 off 49 balls) at McLean Park, Napier.
Besides her exploits with the bat, she also displayed her crafty skills with the ball as she returned with 5 wickets at a sensational average of 9.40 and an economy of 4.33 in five innings with the ball for Auckland Hearts in the competition.
Jess Kerr [Wellington Blaze]:
The elder of the Kerr sisters, Jess Kerr, played an instrumental role by displaying her blockbuster prowess with the bat as well as with the ball for Wellington Blaze in the recently concluded edition of the tournament. She was placed 2nd to her younger sister Melie in both departments, scoring a remarkable 326 runs at a strike rate of 119.41 and a sensational average of 36.32 in 11 innings, placing her 2nd in the list of tournament’s leading run-scorers in the recently concluded edition. She had three half-centuries in her kitty. Her best display with the bat for Wellington Blaze in the tournament came on 1st January 2025 against the Northern Brave when she scored a brilliant unbeaten half-century (61* off 39 balls) alongside skipper Melie Kerr.
She is also placed joint 4th in the list of leading wicket-takers of the tournament with 14 scalps at an impressive average of 16.28 and an economy of 5.18 in 11 innings with the ball for her side in the tournament. Her best performance with the ball for the Blaze came on 22nd January 2025, when she returned with exceptional match figures of 4-0-11-4 in her spell against Canterbury Magicians. Her outstanding performances have earned her a spot at number five in the Women’s Super Smash Team of the Tournament.
Lauren Down [Auckland Hearts]:
She was the stand-out performer with the bat, leading the run-scoring charts for Auckland Hearts and placing her 3rd in the tournament’s leading run-scorers in the recently concluded edition with 304 runs at a strike rate of 108.18 and a mind-blowing average of 76 in 9 innings with the bat for her side. Her tally of runs included one unbeaten half-century against Central Hinds.
Polly Inglis (WK) [Otago Sparks]:
The 28-year-old wicket-keeper batter Polly Inglis was one of the stars with the bat for her side in the tournament. She ended the season as the 3rd highest run-scorer for her side with 172 runs at a strike rate of 97.72 and an impressive average of 28.66 in 11 innings with the bat for her side. Besides her contributions with the bat for Otago Sparks, she has also impressed everyone with her glove work from behind the stumps in the tournament. She’ll come in at number seven in the Super Smash Team of the Tournament.
Hayley Jensen [Otago Sparks]:
The Otago Sparks skipper played a crucial role in helping her side finish at the top of the table in the league stages of the tournament an inspirational campaign included seven victories, which fetched them 28 points from 10 games. They eventually finished their season as the runners-up of the season courtesy of their eight-run defeat in the final against Wellington Blaze led by skipper Melie Kerr. The Sparks skipper chipped in with 87 runs at a decent strike rate of 110.12 in seven innings with the bat for her side. Her best performance with the bat for her side in the tournament came on 25th January 2025 against Northern Brave when she stayed unbeaten on 49* (34 balls) to guide her side over the line.
Besides her contributions with the bat, she was also the joint 3rd highest wicket-taker for Otago Sparks alongside Emma Black with 11 wickets at an average of 24 and an economy of 6.43 in 11 innings with the ball for her side in the tournament. She will come in at number eight in this line-up.
Eden Carson [Otago Sparks]:
She shone brightly in the Women’s Super Smash, emerging as the tournament’s standout performer. As a right-arm off-spinner, she led the charge for Otago Sparks, claiming 18 wickets at an impressive average of 15.38 and an economy of 6.29 over 11 innings. Her standout moment came on January 12, 2025, against Central Hinds, where she left the fans awestruck with mesmerizing figures of 5 wickets for just 18 runs in 4 overs. This stellar performance was pivotal in propelling the Sparks to the top of the table, securing them a coveted spot in the final of the recently concluded edition of the Women’s Super Smash. Although they fought valiantly in the final against Wellington Blaze, narrowly losing by just 8 runs.
Emma Black [Otago Sparks]:
The young 23-year-old pacer, Emma Jordan Black, had an impressive campaign in the recently concluded edition of the Women’s Super Smash. She ended the tournament as the 3rd highest wicket-taker for the Hayley Jensen-led Otago Sparks with 11 wickets at a decent average of 21.27 and an economy of 5.48 in 11 innings with the ball for her side. Her best performance with the ball for Otago Sparks in the tournament came on 12th January 2025 against Central Hinds, when she returned with impressive match figures of 3.4-0-12-3 in her spell at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North. She will come in at number 10 in the Super Smash Team of the Tournament.
Fran Jonas [Auckland Hearts]:
She played a crucial role in her side’s success in the recently concluded edition of the tournament. She ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker for Auckland Hearts and also placed as the joint 4th in the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with 14 wickets at an average of 16.35 and an economy of 6.02 in 10 innings alongside Jess Kerr from Wellington Blaze. Fran Jonas’s best performance with the ball for Auckland Hearts came on 3rd January 2025, when she returned with impressive match figures of 4-0-13-3 in her spell against Canterbury Magicians.
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