.png)
The Wellington Blaze and Wellington Firebirds both picked up victories in Whakatū, Nelson today against the Central sides.
Central Hinds vs Wellington Blaze:
The Wellington Blaze picked up victory over the Central Hinds in Whakatū, Nelson with an all round performance by Jess Kerr leading the way.
There was early trouble for the Blaze with the top four batters only contributing 29 runs between them as the Hinds bowlers of Rosemary Mair, Claudia Green, and Ocean Bartlett caused trouble early on.
Australian international, in her second and final game for the Blaze was the top scorer of the top four making 16 before being bowled by Green.
Following on from her maiden 50 against the Northern Brave in the Blaze’s last fixture, Jess Kerr once again stood up with the bat as she brought up a second T20 half-century from 38 balls.
Apart from Kerr no one else could go on to make a big score with Kate Chandler (10) providing support to Kerr in their 55 run stand for the fifth wicket.
A few late wickets brought the Blaze to a total of 114/8 from their 20 overs with Mair and Bartlett taking two wickets each.
Central’s innings didn’t get off to a good start for them with Kerr carrying on her batting form with the ball picking up Hollie Armitage (3) and Thamsyn Newton (0).
Apart from scores of 23 by Rowe and Mair, there was little success for the Hinds batters with opener Emma McLeod being the only other player to score above ten.
Leigh Kasperek showed her efforts with the ball picking up a four wicket bag and alongside Perry and Kerr they took nine wickets between them. The other wicket was taken by Blaze captain Amelia Kerr as she took her opposing number, Mikaela Grieg, first ball.
The visitors ended up taking a comprehensive 25 run victory with Jess Kerr taking the final wicket of Mair and took the Blaze to the top of the table.
Central Stags vs Wellington Firebirds:
The Wellington Firebirds backed up the efforts of their female counterparts with an eleven run victory over the Central Stags, led by James Hartshorn’s five wicket bag on T20 debut.
Blackcap Tom Blundell fell in the first over to spinner Angus Schaw for his second golden duck of the season but the second wicket partnership between Tim Robinson and Nick Kelly laid the foundations for the visitors.
Robinson would go one to make his 3rd T20 50 for the Firebirds but was dismissed by Angus Schaw in the 14th over, who finished with best bowling figures of 3/25.
Muhammad Abbas provided an important 55* to take the visitors through to 190 from their 20 overs. Important innings by Nick Kelly (36) and Jesse Tashkoff (24) ensured that the visitors put on a defendable total.
Schaw and Will Clark were the only bowlers to end up with wickets whilst former Blackcap Blair Tickner was sent for 51 from his set.
Central’s reply started with two quick wickets in the second over to Hartshorn as both Curtis Heaphy and Dane Cleaver fell for ducks.
Captain Tom Bruce tried some fightback in his knock of 24 but was bowled by van Beek for 24.
Wellington’s bowlers kept putting pressure on the Stags batters and it meant that they needed to start attacking which led to the wickets of Josh Clarkson (22) and Jack Boyle (66) to Peter Younghusband.
With the game starting to go in Wellington’s favour and the required rate climbing, it was looking like a Stags victory would be unlikely. That was until Schaw and Clark came together in the middle and started to attack.
Between the 15th and 18th overs they took 50 runs from them to take the target to just 18 from the last 12 balls.
However, some clever bowling by van Beek had both Schaw (32) and Clark (23) gone in the penultimate to leave 16 required from the final six balls.
Hartshorn was given the task of bowling it. He went on to concede just four runs whilst picking up the wickets of Joey Field (3), Tickner (0), and Brett Randell (1) to pick up a maiden five wicket haul. It was also the best figures for Wellington in T20 cricket.
The visitors took victory by 11 runs to be fifth on the table.
Comments