Auckland won against Wellington by 5 wickets.

Auckland won against Wellington by 5 wickets a Super Smash thriller! Bevon Jacobs’ 54 and Harjot Johal’s 3-wicket haul shine at Basin Reserve.

Wellington

Player Name	Runs	Balls
Tim Robinson	5	7
Tom Blundell	18	12
Nick Kelly	5	6
Muhammad Abbas	7	6
Jesse Tashkoff	83	39
Gareth Severin	33	29
Logan van Beek	24	13
Peter Younghusband	4*	7
Nick Greenwood	2*	2

Auckland

Player Name	Runs	Balls
Dale Phillips	37	27
Simon Keene	21	12
Martin Guptill	19	18
Bevon Jacobs	54	30
Lachlan Stackpole	14	10
Cam Fletcher	15*	8
Ryan Harrison	21*	11

In a high-scoring thriller at the Basin Reserve, the Auckland Aces held their nerve to chase down a formidable target of 188, defeating the Wellington Firebirds by 5 wickets in the 4th match of the 2025-26 Super Smash. It was a contest defined by dramatic momentum shifts, with Jesse Tashkoff’s heroic rescue act for Wellington ultimately overshadowed by Bevon Jacobs’ explosive half-century and a clinical finishing masterclass from Ryan Harrison.

The Firebirds’ Rollercoaster: Tashkoff to the Rescue

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Wellington Firebirds found themselves in immediate trouble on their home turf. The Auckland seamers, utilizing the windy Wellington conditions to perfection, tore through the top order.

Debutant Harjot Johal was the wrecker-in-chief, silencing the home crowd early. He removed key batters cheaply, leaving the Firebirds reeling at a precarious 43/4 inside the Powerplay. Top-order stalwarts like Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell failed to convert their starts, succumbing to the pressure applied by Auckland’s disciplined lines.

Just as a sub-150 score looked inevitable, Jesse Tashkoff produced one of the innings of the tournament. Walking into a crisis, Tashkoff displayed maturity beyond his years, counter-attacking with ferocity. He found an able partner in Gareth Severin (33 off 29 balls), and the duo reconstructed the innings with a century stand that completely flipped the script.

Tashkoff was imperious, blasting 83 runs off just 39 balls. His knock was studded with 10 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, punishing anything loose and manipulating the field with ease. Logan van Beek added a late flourish with a cameo of 24 off 13 deliveries, propelling Wellington to a competitive total of 187/7. Johal finished as the pick of the bowlers for Auckland, claiming 3 vital wickets and earning the Player of the Match honors.

The Chase: Aces Ace the Pressure Moments

Chasing 188 for victory, the Auckland Aces required a fast start, and their openers obliged. Dale Phillips (37 off 27) and Simon Keene (21 off 12) came out swinging, adding 36 runs for the first wicket at a rapid clip. Phillips looked particularly dangerous, finding the fence five times to ensure the required run rate never spiraled out of control early on.

However, Wellington’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs. The dismissal of the experienced Martin Guptill for a run-a-ball 19 threatened to derail the chase, leaving the Aces at 108/3 in the 12th over. The game hung in the balance, with the Firebirds’ spinners, including Peter Younghusband (1/23), tightening the screws.

Enter Bevon Jacobs. In a match-defining performance, Jacobs seized the initiative back from Wellington. He played with controlled aggression, scoring a blistering 54 off 30 deliveries. His innings, which included four sixes, broke the back of the chase and demoralized the Wellington attack.

The Final Flourish

Despite Jacobs falling in the 17th over with the finish line in sight, the Aces refused to panic. The equation came down to the final few overs, pressure territory where many chases falter.

Ryan Harrison and Cam Fletcher ensured there would be no final twist in the tale. Harrison was particularly destructive, scoring an unbeaten 21 off just 11 balls, while Fletcher remained calm with 15* off 8. The pair dismantled the death bowling, with Harrison striking four boundaries to seal the win with four balls to spare, finishing at 189/5.