Central Districts Māori cruise to 8-wicket win over Te Whanganui-a-Tara

The first round of the Māori Wāhine National Cricket tournament got underway in Heretaunga, with teams welcomed to the ground by Te roopu kapa haka o Ngāti Kahungunu.

Charlie's work can be found here!

Ocean Bartlett celebrates a wicket with her teammates. Photo credit: @CapturedBy_Charlie / Charlie Pawson

Central Districts cruised to a convincing 8-wicket victory over Te Whanganui-a-Tara via Georgia Atkinson’s 42 (21) despite a Caitlin King half century.

Jess McFadyen and Caitlin King opened, with Macy Lyford and Olivia Clark sharing the new ball for CD.

Lyford saw the end of McFadyen in the 4th over, dispatched to Madison Greenaway for 10 runs. Estella Wallace was the next batter in, rounding off the powerplay with King for 27–1.

India Bartlett and Georgia Atkinson were called upon to dismantle the 23-run partnership, though the breakthrough would come from Ocean Bartlett with Greenaway in the hot seat once more. Wallace had to depart for 14 (28), bringing Nicole Baird to the crease.

It was clear Te Whanganui-a-Tara couldn’t get into a comfortable rhythm, losing 4 more wickets cheaply. King wrapped up her half century off 44 deliveries, but her side could only tally up 99 runs for 6 wickets after 20.

Ocean caused the majority of the damage claiming 2–15, with Atkinson, India and Lyford grabbing one apiece. Greenaway in the field posed a large threat to the batters.

Central Districts Maori’s chase was a straightforward cruise, Atkinson setting them up nicely with a quire-fire 42 off 21. Opening partner Reese Drager contributed 11, with Sam Mackinder finishing off the chase with a neat run-a-ball 23*.

Emma Parker and Nicole Baird brought the fight for Te Whanganui-a-Tara with a wicket each to their names, but the game was well and done in the 13th over.

Teams:

Te Whanganui-a-Tara: Jess McFadyen (C, WK), Caitlin King, Estella Wallace, Nicole Baird, Sasha MacArthur, Joanne Wawatai, Keisha Pegg, Emma Parker, Greta Abbott, Gemma Guiney, Amelia Newell, Taylor Pewhairangi.

Central Districts Māori: Georgia Atkinson ©, Reese Drager, Sam Mackinder (WK), Jasmine O’Dell, India Bartlett, Ocean Bartlett, Olivia Clark, Madison Greenaway, Macy Lyford, Olivia McKnight, Molly Noema-Barnett, Kerry Tomlinson.