Blues halfback in Super Rugby. Aces paceman in Dream11 Super Smash. Is there anything all-round sports ace Jock Mckenzie can't do?
The Aces debutant quickly made himself right at home in the same stadium in which he's previously represented Auckland as a halfback - the multitalented 22-year-old Blues Super Rugby rep and former New Zealand Under 19 cricket rep taking 3/31 on debut for the Aces today, getting Ollie White caught off just his second delivery for his maiden wicket.
PHOTOSPORT
The Auckland Aces overtook the Wellington Firebirds at the top of the Dream11 Super Smash ladder after beating the Otago Volts at a sweltering Eden Park, the win brought home in by an unbroken match-winning century stand for the fourth wicket between Cam Fletcher and Cole Briggs.
McKenzie has plenty of pedigree in the summer game - he's the younger brother of former Volt, now Canterbury Kings allrounder Gus McKenzie.
Big bro Gus | PHOTOSPORT
Their father, Grant McKenzie, played 45 matches for Northern Districts in the days before T20 existed. Angus and Jock's grandfather Bill McKenzie was also a handy cricketer, having played a Hawke Cup Challenge for Hawke's Bay against Nelson in 1960.
Jock with dad Grant McKenzie | PHOTOSPORT
With the Firebirds meanwhile having succumbed by six wickets to the Central Stags yesterday at the Cello Basin Reserve - the Stags' charge lit up by a brilliant all-round performance from Doug Bracewell, the Aces have leapfrogged their capital rivals, to now hold a two-point lead at the top of the table.
Should the Aces win their remaining two matches (four points available per win), they will gain direct entry to the Grand Final, set to be played in a fortnight's time, as the top qualifier.
A loss or washout will open the door again for the Firebirds and the chasing teams to clinch the sole direct entry berth, with second and third qualifiers to contest the sudden death Elimination Final on Friday, 26 January.
The Aces are in action again at the big top of Eden Park this Tuesday when they will host the Central Stags in another big game - the Stags currently holding third spot by a whisker over the Canterbury Kings on net run rate, while the Firebirds have a chance to rebound against the bottom of the table Northern Brave tomorrow at the Cello Basin Reserve.
