.png)
A rain affected affair at the Basin Reserve ended in the Wellington Blaze winning by 18 runs via DLS, with quick work from Rebecca Burns and Amelia Kerr, as well as Georgia Atkinson and Nat Dodd with career bests to put up at 149 target. Catch all the action here.
Wellington Blaze vs Central Hinds at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.
Coming into the match…
Wellington Blaze continue their win streak (15) after a win against the Northern Brave at home.
Central Hinds come off a 10 run loss versus the Auckland Hearts in a rain affected match at Pukekura Park.
This is Nat Dodd’s 100th match.
Wellington Blaze playing XI: Nicole Baird, Rebecca Burns, Maddy Green, Xara Jetly, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr ©, Jess Kerr, Caitlin King, Jess McFadyen (WK), Thamsyn Newton, Maneka Singh.
IN: Caitlin King | OUT: Sophie Devine (precaution)
Wellington have one change from their previous game versus the Northern Brave with White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine out regarding concerns with her foot. In her place comes spinner Caitlin King.
Central Hinds playing XI: Jess Watkin ©, Nat Dodd (WK), Georgia Atkinson, Ocean Bartlett, Emily Cunningham, Flora Devonshire, Claudia Green, Mikaela Greig, Rosemary Mair, Hannah Rowe, Kerry Tomlinson.
IN: Ocean Bartlett | OUT: Melissa Hansen
The one change for the Central Hinds coming into this match, Ocean Bartlett in for Melissa Hansen in what seems to be a routine change for them.
Hinds won the toss and chose to bat first.
Pacer Maneka Singh got the innings started as per usual Blaze plans, Nat Dodd playing a risky shot in the direction of Rebecca Burns at point for two runs. An on-drive down the ground from Georgia Atkinson got her up at running with 4 runs. A close call in the first over, they came out of it with 12–0 after 2.
Atkinson coming down the ground again for yet another boundary in the same place and a well timed shot from Dodd putting Kasperek away to the legside took important runs from the bowler, doubling the score in just an over. The Hinds 24–0 after 3.
The rate slowed down after the Kasperek over, with both Singh and Jess Kerr only conceding 5 runs in two overs, with Dodd attacking the last over lofting it to fine leg and deep square for two fours. A much more successful powerplay than the previous for the Hinds, they were 39–0 after 6.
A chance came shortly after, Thamsyn Newton dropped Dodd on 26 with a half chance at square leg. The batter responded, late cut for four to third just 2 deliveries later soon got her game back on track. An expensive over from Singh, adding 9 runs to the total, and with the Hinds bringing up the 50 partnership in the 8th, they were 52–0 after 8.
A fairly uneventful pair of overs followed, 9 runs to the tally from the two and the Hinds were 61–0 midway through the innings. A much improved start from a side prone to losing wickets quickly, and a handy platform for the power hitters like Watkin and Rowe in the order to build on.
Dodd sent a loopy ball away to the leg side four, Atkinson following suit sending it right over the hands of Jess Kerr at mid-off for a one bounce four. A rough over from Jetly, 12 from her first as the Hinds pair looked to find the gaps. The Hinds were 73–0 after 11.
Nat Dodd reached her 9th Super Smash fifty off a well timed four to be followed by a single, looking formidable against a side who hadn’t lost in well over a year. A raise of the bat, then it was back to business. Atkinson exposing the gap at square leg and a mighty drive down the ground saw back-to-back 4’s. Ripping a massive 16 runs from King’s first over — Wellington’s 7th bowler of the day — the Hinds were 95–0 after 13.
A spectacular, trademark reverse sweep from Atkinson into the off brought the side’s 100 up in 13.2 overs, showing the Hinds rapid run rate from the previous team milestone, the batters’ confidence in the crease and how they were able to put the Blaze’s plethora of bowlers under pressure. An uncharacteristic outing from the Hinds, but equally positive signs for their Super Smash campaign ahead. The Hinds 104–0 after 14.
Georgia Atkinson brought up her first T20 fifty in brilliant fashion, a well ran one from her and non-striker Dodd saw her reach the milestone. Her time at the crease wouldn’t be prolonged, in an attempt to ramp up the rate she’d skied it to Jess Kerr off Amelia Kerr’s bowling at cover. Out for 50 off 42, Jess Watkin was brought to the crease to see the end of the game. The Hinds were 114–1 after 16.
Some handy fielding from the Blaze restricting the Hinds to ones and twos: Amelia Kerr cutting one off at deep mid-wicket to stop the four and King at long off to stop the second bounce near the ropes. A shift in the fielding team’s attitudes kept the over to just six runs, with Jess Kerr finishing with 0–23, one of the most economical bowlers for the home side today. The Hinds were 121–1 after 17.
Two missed chances in two balls as Jess Watkin looked to send it in some awkward areas. Burns barely getting a hand to the shot at cover, and Newton unable to time it all right. Maddy Green finally ended the hattrick of fielding fails, grabbing hold of one falling short down the ground. Watkin never looked comfortable during her stay, frequently mistiming her shots. The Hinds were 137–2 after 19.
11 runs from the last that saw a drop from Green, a missed run out from skipper Kerr and a ball that spun more than expected for King gave them some easy runs to add to their total. They finished on 148–2 after 20, leaving the Blaze 149 to chase.
Innings breakdown:
A mix of good batting, sloppy fielding and some questionable bowling choices saw the Hinds with one of their best innings of the season — and it was against the tournament’s most dominant forces pulling up one of their highest partnerships (112). Nat Dodd is once again continuing a fine stint in the Super Smash with today’s 78* off 63, with a 60 coming from Pukekura Park just days before versus Auckland. Georgia Atkinson with one of her finest innings at the crease saw her pull up a well earned 50. There were no early powerplay losses, and the side generally looked stable today. Win or lose, it’s a job well done for the Central Hinds.
For Wellington, there’s some dire questions to be asked. Chances in the field were left untaken, there were 7 bowlers today — a similar issue with the Hinds faced prior. It’s not a strategy that worked out for them, and it didn’t for the Blaze today. There weren’t any stand out stars for them as a unit, both Kerrs were economic but equally saw their fair share of poor overs.
A fine delivery from Hannah Rowe sent flying in the way of Flora Devonshire at square leg was dropped, with Newton off the hook for now. Two deliveries later, a thick edge going flying over Mikaela Greig just about managed to be caught and saw the end of her innings early, just 2 runs — making Rowe’s 50th Super Smash wicket. With Amelia Kerr getting her innings started instantly with a 4 and a well ran 3 with Burns, the Blaze were 12–1 after 2.
A strong cut by Kerr punched to the offside was rewarded with yet another four, a clear sign of the Blaze’s intentions. Burns whipped one away to fine leg followed by a shot past cover gave her back-to-back fours and instantly felt as though the Blaze were back into the game, despite the very early wicket. The Blaze were 34–1 after 4.
A sweep from Burns to fine leg for four came after a bit of dot ball pressure from Watkin, with speedy twos to follow. After the first half of the over only seeing a run for the side, they managed to pull it back with eight in the final half. Kerr once more timing her shot into the off side to expose gaps off Mair put the Hinds under pressure. Burns sent one flying into the same direction to bring up the team 50.
With the Blaze reaching their fifty in the powerplay, it would be a tough task to defend 100 from 15 the way the batters were motoring along. Despite the fact at this stage the Hinds were a wicket up, the Blaze were at a much higher rate making the chase look doable. Extras were no help in the cause either, with 4 coming from wide balls. The Blaze were 55–1 after the powerplay.
A square cut through the gap from Kerr between Tomlinson and Cunningham sent the ball racing away for 4. Though soon after the players were called off the pitch for the hammering rain coming down. The Blaze had to bat just 5 overs, and were well ahead of the DLS par score of 44 at 62–1 after 6.5.
Unfortunately the game couldn’t get going again, and with the score they were at Wellington Blaze had won by 18 runs via DLS method.
Innings breakdown:
It’s hard to breakdown something that was a powerplay-and-a-bit long, but Amelia Kerr (27* off 14) and Rebecca Burns (26 off 22) were simply superb with the bat. Their short cameos made the difference from this being a Blaze win rather than a Hinds win. Even with a wicket down in the second over they were able to power through the gaps and time it well.
Kerr struck the ball as far as she could as soon as she was met with the ball. Perhaps some awareness with the rain incoming and an eye on the DLS total, but an incredible effort from both players in the middle. The field not set for the bowlers meant that they were able to find these gaps with ease, and the bowlers with a sky high economy. Hannah Rowe the only wicket taker (1–12).
It looked as though the Blaze’s win streak would end today, with a massively improved Hinds side putting up one of their best totals as of late — but the rain ended what would have been an undoubtedly close clash.
Player of the Match:
Its quality over quantity: there weren’t many performances today due to the shortened nature of the game, but there were some incredibly class ones. Nat Dodd set her innings well once more with her 78*, Georgia Atkinson hit a career best 50 off 42 with some unorthodox shots, Amelia Kerr was impressive all-round today finishing on 1–21 (4) and a quickfire 27* off 14 and Rebecca Burns with a handy knock of 26* off 22.
Understandably for the sheer mass of runs she scored, the Player of the Match was Nat Dodd for her 78* off 63, with 8 boundaries, making this her highest ever Super Smash total.
Comments