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A lot of wind emanates from Wellington and plenty relates to its cricket team, which will be blown away by Canterbury at the Basin Reserve.

You can't beat Wellington on a good day, so the slogan goes. Trouble is they have so few of them and today looks like no exception.

They should call the home side the Capital City Chokers seeing as it can't win a game of marbles when the pressure's on. Canterbury's got the firepower to douse the Firebirds' flame and bring the cup back to Christchurch where it belongs - six wins it will be in eight seasons, say no more.

Who has Wellington got who can win the game? For openers, Matthew Bell is still shell-shocked from the Indian series, where he hardly scored a run, and his partner, Chris Nevin, can barely see over the stumps.

Tim Boyer is just a kid at this level while Wellington always fields an overseas import - Englishman Roger Twose having made the place a permanent home - because there aren't enough good locals. Phil Chandler was supposed to be New Zealand's next opener a few seasons ago, but we're still waiting.

Richard ``Peaches'' Petrie talks a good game, but usually struggles to play one against his old Cantab colleagues.

Mayu Pasupati sounds like another import who has overstayed while Carl Bulfin, shorn of his blond dreadlocks, looks like Samson having lost his strength the way he got clobbered by Hurricane Howell last time in Christchurch.

Gavin Larsen will need a walking stick to get to the bowling crease soon and has already got more grey hairs than Mark Priest will ever have.

The names of nonentities like Mark Jefferson and Glen White will hardly strike trepidation into red-and-black hearts.

In Canterbury's lead-up to the final: Central Districts - caned; Auckland - annihilated; Northern Districts - never a chance; and now Wellington ... wiped out.

Hail the conquering heroes: Harry, Howell, Macker, Astle, Stead, Cairns, and company at Christchurch airport 7.45pm tonight.