Devon Conway has produced a masterclass of an innings to help Wellington Firebirds defend their Super Smash men's title.
Conway (93 not out off 63 balls) paced his knock perfectly, as he smashed 11 boundaries and one six to seal victory for his side.
At a packed Basin Reserve, Firebirds skipper Michael Bracewell sent Canterbury Kings into bat. Logan van Beek (3/28) grabbed an early wicket of Ken McClure (12 off 8 balls), but the visitors made a better start.
The dangerous Daryl Mitchell (35 off 24 balls) and Chad Bowes (37 off 23 balls) had them off to a roaring start, with 55 from the first six overs.
But the home side pulled the scoring rate back through the middle of the innings with some tight bowling and key wickets.
Leg-spinner Peter Younghusband (2/25) stalled the momentum, and picked up two big dismissals of Bowes and Mitchell, who was caught spectacularly by Conway.
Part-time spinner Bracewell (2/3) brought himself on, and grabbed the bonus wickets of Leo Carter and Cam Fletcher with consecutive deliveries.
Canterbury steadied the ship through Henry Shipley (29 off 15) and Cole McConchie (44 off 39), who played a captain's knock, as they reached 175/8 at halfway.
The headline act of Finn Allen wasn't his blockbusting self, as he stumbled his way through to 16, before McConchie picked up the big scalp.
Tom Blundell came and went for a duck, before Conway and Troy Johnson (28 off 15 balls) blasted 58 for the third wicket to put the home side in a promising position.
The visitors continued to pick up wickets, but a cameo from Jamie Gibson (16 off 10 balls) and Conway smashed their side home for a five-wicket win.
Wellington Firebirds 178/5 (Conway 93, Johnson 28, Neesham 18, Nuttall 2/32) bt Canterbury Kings 175/8 (McConchie 44, Mitchell 35, Shipley 29, Van Beek 3/28)
