Cricket: T20 returns to Pukekura Park

CD Cricket media release

Photo by Margot Butcher

Today’s national reveal of the 2026/27 Super Smash schedule brings fantastic news for New Plymouth cricket fans with the Central Hinds and Stags to host two T20 doubleheader events at the venue this summer.

The T20 showcase also returns to Palmerston North (27 December), Nelson (10 January) and Napier (21 January) this summer, while the return to Taranaki brings extra excitement with the action back in front of the famous terraces for the first time since December 2023.

The Stags and Hinds will play the Canterbury Kings and Magicians there straight after New Year’s on Saturday, 2 January and Central Districts Cricket is already encouraging people to act fast when tickets go on sale next month.

“We know how much this will mean to our New Plymouth community who have always been massive supporters of the Stags and Hinds at these events over the holiday period,” said Central Districts Cricket CEO, Lance Hamilton.

“The scheduling is in the peak of the traditional holiday season, and the enduring Central-Canterbury rivalry is never a contest to be missed.

“Combined with the excitement of having Super Smash cricket back at Pukekura Park, there is a real possibility that this match could sell out online prior — and what an atmosphere that would be.”

The Stags and Hinds will be back one more time at Pukekura Park on Sunday, 17 January, this time to host the Volts and Sparks from Otago — providing a rare chance to see superstar Suzie Bates in Taranaki.

The record-breaker retired from her decorated WHITE FERNS career earlier this year, but is hoping to help her southern side lift national silverware this season as she commits to one more whirl around the domestic traps.

None of Central’s five home doubleheader events will be televised this season — a key factor that allowed CD to bring the T20 game back to Taranaki.

That’s one more reason to be sure to secure tickets early, since the only alternative to primo views at the park will be a fixed-camera, no frills livestream on YouTube as currently deployed for Plunket Shield, Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Ford Trophy matches.

NZC’s intention to decrease the number of this season’s televised Super Smash matchdays was signalled over winter, but three of Central’s away doubleheaders in the regular season — in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as the Finals, will be on the box, live and free to air on TVNZ+ and TVNZ Duke.

The timing and logistics of NZC's home summer international schedule ultimately ruled out televising Central’s home Super Smash fixtures this season.

“Particularly with CD hosting the BLACKCAPS and Sri Lanka at McLean Park on 16 January, the windows required around that fixture precluded slotting in a Super Smash event in Napier ahead of it, while broadcast was unavailable for the 21 January Super Smash round in which we're scheduled to play in Napier,” said Hamilton.

“Clearly a lot of things are different this season for the Super Smash overall, but we’ve landed in a place that is exciting for our Central supporters.

“We're thrilled to be able to bring Super Smash back to Pukekura Park, and to have secured the family friendly 27 December date for Palmerston North that has been a huge hit with our Manawatū supporters in recent years. 

“It was also important to us to secure fixtures for our Hawke’s Bay and Nelson fans, and I’d like to thank all of our regional partners who have worked with us to lock in these entertaining events.”

In other changes to this year’s Super Smash, the competition format reverts to traditional ‘rounds’ — three doubleheaders scheduled on the same day around the country (other than the final round, when Wellington and Auckland will play a day later than the other four teams).

The Finals will all be televised from Eden Park’s Kennards Hire Community Oval, with the men’s and women’s Elimination (2v3) Finals inked in for Thursday, 28 January; and the Grand Finals on Saturday, 30 January — the start of Auckland’s Anniversary long weekend.

For the Stags and Hinds teams, the determination to be there will start afresh, after both teams narrowly missed out on last year’s Finals weekend after a heart-breaking last away round in Auckland  — in spite of Stags captain Tom Bruce’s career high knock of 95 off just 50 balls. 

As the current Ford Trophy national champions, the Stags have enjoyed a strong recent record in all formats, and last won the Super Smash just two years ago in Wellington.

The Hinds meanwhile are no strangers to a Grand Final, having lost to Melie Kerr’s Wellington Blaze by just one run in 2024 in the main stadium, the last time Auckland hosted the Finals. 

Last summer Hinds captain Hannah Rowe became the first to chalk up 100 T20 caps for her team, a mark Dane Cleaver and Bruce have also now reached for the Stags.

The inspirational allrounder and longtime WHITE FERN is fired up to add the Super Smash title to her resumé: the Hinds have won it only once, before her time back in the summer of 2010 when Aimee Watkins’ side won both the T20 and One-Day national titles in the same season.

It was a heck of a summer for Central whose Stags also won the men’s T20 crown that year.

The Stags’ class of 2027 will be raring to go again under Taranaki-based Bruce who is looking forward to being back on his home town turf, and under new head coach Heinrich Malan who combined with Bruce to win the 2019 title during Malan’s previous tenure with the team.

2026/27 CD fixtures

ROUND ONE - home Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North Sunday 27 December 2026 12pm/3.45pm v Wellington Blaze and Firebirds

ROUND TWO - away* Seddon Park, Hamilton Wednesday 30 December 2026 2pm/5.45pm v Northern Brave women and men

ROUND THREE - home Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Sunday 2 January 2027 12pm/3.45pm v Canterbury Magicians and Kings

ROUND FOUR - away Kennards Hire Community Oval, Eden Park, Auckland Monday 4 January 2027 12.40pm/4.25pm v Auckland Hearts and Aces

ROUND FIVE - away* Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington Thursday 7 January 2027 12.30pm/4.15pm v Wellington Blaze and Firebirds

ROUND SIX - home Saxton Oval, Nelson Sunday 10 January 2027 12pm/3.45pm v Auckland Hearts and Aces

ROUND SEVEN - away* Hagley Oval, Christchurch Thursday 14 January 2027 2pm/5.45pm v Canterbury Magicians and Kings

ROUND EIGHT - home Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Sunday 17 January 2027 12pm/3.45pm v Sparks and Volts

ROUND NINE - home McLean Park, Napier Thursday 21 January 2027 12.45pm/4.30pm v Northern Brave women and men

ROUND TEN - away University of Otago Oval, Dunedin Sunday 24 January 2027 12pm/4pm v Sparks and Volts

ELIMINATION (2v3) FINALS * - away** Kennards Hire Community Oval, Eden Park, Auckland Thursday 28 January 2027 12.30pm/4.15pm

GRAND FINALS * - away** Kennards Hire Community Oval, Eden Park, Auckland Saturday 30 January 2027 12.30pm/4.15pm

 *   Televised

** The top three in both the men’s and women’s leagues progress to the Finals weekend in Auckland