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The Blaze scored a massive win over the Magicians whilst the Kings put on a solid performance to get through to the elimination final.
Wellington Blaze vs Canterbury Magicians:
The Blaze built early pressure on the Magicians with the ball as only four runs came from the opening two overs. This pressure led to Jess Kerr being able to run out Kate Anderson for two.
Maddie Penna and Frankie Mackay got Canterbury back into their innings, but Wellington was able to keep the run rate at a minimum to leave Canterbury with 34 runs on the board in the first eight overs.
With the pressure building once again for the Magicians, Leigh Kasperek got Penna for 23 and then Amelia Kerr trapped Izzy Sharp LBW for five.
Mackay and Jodie Dean then went about being able to restore the Magicians innings and did a good job. They took eight from a Xara Jetly over, then six off Kasperek before taking 14 from Nicole Baird’s first over.
However, the Magicians found themselves in serious trouble with Mackay falling to Kasperek for 31 and then Lea Tahuhu for a golden duck.
Jacinta Savage was bowled by Sophie Devine and Missy Banks was stumped for one off Amelia Kerr.
The Magicians now found themselves seven down but were soon to find themselves in an even worse position as Jess Kerr got Dean caught and bowled for 23 and then Laura Hughes for five.
Sarah Asmussen was run out on the final ball of the innings for two.
The Magicians finished on 97/10 in their 20 overs.
The Blaze found themselves losing the early wicket of Devine who was run out inside the first four over by Mackay for 11.
Rebecca Burns and Kerr then restored the Blaze chase with Kerr showing her talent as she attacked Asmussen and Banks following the powerplay before Tahuhu got the wicket of Burns for 11.
Georgia Plimmer and Kerr then saw the Blaze to an eight-wicket win with Kerr making 48* and Plimmer 18*.
Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury Kings:
The Kings got off to an explosive start with Chad Bowes and Tom Latham seeing through the powerplay with 52 runs on the board.
However, Bowes fell a couple of overs later for 35 with Peter Younghusband making the breakthrough.
Latham and Henry Nicholls carried on the innings that had been set and made their way to near the 150-run mark with 17 overs down when Nicholls went for 52 (11th T20 50) with Logan van Beek getting the wicket.
Latham went at the end over following a stunning catch by van Beek off his bowling for 60.
Cole McConchie fell in the last over for five with Nathan Smith getting the wicket. Bevon Jacobs finished on 19* and Mitch Hay on 0* as the Kings posted 178.
The Firebirds got their innings off to an all-right start through captain Nick Kelly and debutant Gareth Severin.
Kelly was the first to go as he tried to reverse off Micahel Rae but was instead bowled for 28. Mo Abbas then went in the over following the powerplay for five with Rae getting a second wicket.
Michael Bracewell came in and showed his aggressive nature as he struck three sixes but was soon out to Will O’Rourke for a quick 33 from 17. Troy Johnson was stumped off a wide by Michael Rippon in the next over for a duck.
With the run rate climbing, Canterbury was able to keep picking up wickets as O’Rourke had his second with Callum McLachlan falling for eight. Severin was bowled by Angus McKenzie for a well-made 41.
van Beek decided to attack at the end with the chance for a win being slimmer and slimmer. He went for 20 from 11 in what was probably the last chance of a win for the home team.
Smith (5) and Younghusband (2) were both dismissed by Zak Foulkes in the nineteenth with Adam Milne and Ben Sears finishing on 12* and 3* respectively.
Canterbury took an 18-run win and ensured their place in the elimination final to come up against Wellington.
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