Former New Zealand under-age cricket captain Finn Allen has blasted 73 from 35 balls as he seeks a first international call up with the Blackcaps.
The hard-hitting right-handed batsman's blistering Super Smash knock helped his Wellington Firebirds post 230/2 in a dominant victory of Auckland Aces, at Eden Park's Outer Oval on Sunday.
Incumbent Blackcaps T20 batsman Devon Conway teased a century, but ended 91 not out from 58 balls, while Tom Blundell smashed 46 from 23 as the Firebirds plundered the Aces attack to and over the boundary, seemingly at will.
Chasing 231, the Aces were 98/4 at the halfway point, but no Auckland batsman passed 38 and they were eventually bowled out for 191 on the final ball of the innings.
Allen's dominated the Super Smash this season, plundering 496 runs at a strike rate of 196, including seven half-centuries.
The 21-year-old's hot form has piled pressure on veteran Blackcaps opener Martin Guptill, who hasn't passed fifty in international cricket this season.
Guptill missed Sunday's clash with a hamstring injury, but New Zealand coach Gary Stead recently suggested the right-hander will be part of the upcoming T20 series against Australia.
The Firebirds now await the winner of the Central Stags v Canterbury elimination final on Thursday, ahead of the Super Smash Grand Final in Wellington, next Saturday.
Match wrap: Wellington Firebirds: 230/2 (Conway 91no, Allen 73) bt
Auckland Aces: 191 (W O'Donnell 38, Neesham 3/41, Bennett 2/29) by 39 runs
