The Canterbury Kings learned that the hard way.
They picked a team stacked with incredible bowling talent but went into the Super Smash final against Central Districts arguably a batsman short.
They limped to 135 for eight.
Daryl Mitchell led the charge for Canterbury, whacking 46 from 38 balls.
He combined with Cole McConchie (27 from 29) in a stand of 59 runs.
But Toby Findlay nabbed three for 29 and Brent Randell claimed two for 27.
They helped keep the lid on the run rate, and the Stags had no problem mowing down the target.
Dane Cleaver clobbered 43 from 34 balls, and Will Young played a low-risk game on his way to 35 from 32 deliveries.
By the time Young feathered an edge to the keeper Mitch Hay, most of the work had been done.
The in-form Tom Bruce helped finish the job with 14 from 17, and Will Clark posted an undefeated cameo of 17 from 10 balls.
Curtis Heaphy crashed a drive through the covers to clinch a six-wicket win with more than two overs to spare.
Canterbury went into the game with a world-class bowling up.
Seamers Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Kyle Jamieson, leg spinner Ish Sodhi and all-rounders Henry Shipley and Zak Foulkes have all played for their country.
But it proved one bowler too many and one batter light.
They just did not have enough runs to defend.
The good news for Black Caps fans is Jamieson’s return from injury continues to go well. He snapped up two for 24.
The towering right-armer removed Jack Boyle for five and got the dangerman Cleaver as well.
Sodhi proved difficult to get away as well. He went wicketless but tied an end up nicely.
The Kings have now lost five consecutive Super Smash finals, while the Stags picked up their first title in the format since 2018-19.
CANTERBURY
J Bowes c Findlay b Tickner 16 (19)
M Hay c Lennox b Randell 5 (7)
M Boyle c Young b Schaw 2 (4)
D Mitchell c Lennox b Findlay 46 (38)
C McConchie run out (Bruce) 27 (29)
H Shipley c Young b Findlay 10 (9)
Z Foulkes c Bruce b Randell 7 (5)
M Henry c Schaw b Findlay 12 (6)
K Jamieson not out 4 (3)
Extras (1lb, 5w) 6
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 135 (120)
Fall: 1-8, 2-14, 3-39, 4-98, 5-105, 6-114, 7-130, 8-135.
Bowling: A Schaw 4-0-33-1 (2w), B Randell 4-0-27-2, T Findlay 4-0-29-3, J Lennox 4-0-28-0 (1w), B Tickner 4-0-17-1.
CENTRAL
W Young c Hay b O'Rourke 35 (32)
J Boyle b Jamieson 5 (5)
D Cleaver c Boyle b Jamieson 43 (34)
T Bruce c McConchie b Shipley 14 (17)
W Clark not out 17 (10)
C Heaphy not out 9 (6)
Extras (2lb, 11w) 13
Total (4 wkts, 17.2 overs) 136
Fall: 1-8, 2-83, 3-97.
Bowling: M Henry 3-0-33-0, K Jamieson 4-0-24-2 (3w), W O'Rourke 4-0-33-1, Z Foulkes 1.2-0-17-0 (2w), I Sodhi 4-0-22-0 (1w), H Shipley 1-0-5-1.
Result: Central won by six wickets.
