Kiwi Cricket Kōrero host and writer Vincent Jones writes on the Wellington Blaze vs Canterbury Magicians Women’s Super Smash 2022–23 fixture (originally written 7/1/23)
Toss: Wellington Blaze won the toss and elected to bat
Canterbury Magicians: Kate Anderson, Nat Cox, Laura Hughes, Izzy Sharp, Amy Satterthwaite, Fran Wilson, Abby Gerken, Lea Tahuhu, Missy Banks, Gabby Sullivan, Sarah Asmussen
Wellington Blaze: Thamsyn Newton, Sophie Devine, Rebecca Burns, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Jess Kerr, Jessica McFadyen, Xara Jetly, Nicole Baird, Maneka Singh
First Innings: Thamsyn Newton and Sophie Devine opened the batting for the Blaze, but their partnership was only able to last four balls as Missy Banks had the early breakthrough, removing Newton for four, caught by Amy Satterthwaite. Lea Tahuhu snared the big wicket of Devine, gone for a golden duck. Captain, Amelia and Rebecca Burns were set out with the task of trying to get a good total for the team. Once they started to get settled, boundaries slowly began to increase, over by over. With the runs flowing it allowed a few attacking shots from Burns, but she tried to take on the spin of Asmussen and come down the wicket, but was stumped by the keeper, Laura Hughes for 40 from 28 balls. Maddy Green was next to the crease, but only lasted 10 balls in her quick stay she managed six runs, before Banks got her second wicket, caught by Hughes. Georgia Plimmer joined Kerr with 9 overs to go, and the game evenly balance at 81/4. Plimmer was looking to be aggressive and carry on the intent that Burns had. Both batters played some nice shots off Tahuhu and Asmussen’s overs, before Satterthwaite bought the breakthrough, getting the big wicket of Kerr for 38 from 35 balls, caught by Fran Wilson. As one Kerr left the crease, another came in with Jess Kerr joining Plimmer. Plimmer decided to attack the bowling of Tahuhu once more, taking her for 16 from an over which included three fours. Once she feel in the 17th over for 25, caught by Nat Cox from Asmussen’s bowling, it felt like the upper hand was starting to swing to the Canterbury side. Kerr was the next to fall, out for 13 from 8, and Xara Jetly was run out next ball by Wilson/Satterthwaite. Nicole Baird was the next to crease but only survived 4 balls and wasn’t able to add to the score, making a duck on her Super Smash debut. Maneka Singh and Jessica McFadyen were able to life the Blaze to 146 all out, as McFadyen was caught by Banks from Gabby Sullivan’s bowling. Burns contributed 40, whilst Melie Kerr added 38 and Plimmer chipped in with 25. Banks took three wickets, Asmussen and Sattherwaite got two and Tahuhu and Sullivan both got one each. Second Innings: Kate Anderson and Cox got the innings started for Canterbury in pursuit of 147. Cox was unfortunately only able to last the first over as she feel to edged one behind to McFadyen off Singh’s bowling. Hughes quickly became Singh’s second victim as she was stumped by McFadyen for 7. The Cantebrury side were going to need to find a partnership somewhere as they couldn’t keep on relying on Anderson. Youngster, Izzy Sharp was promoted up the order but this tactic also failed for the Magicians, who were now three down for only 24 runs at the end of the fifth over. The Canterbury Magicians captain, Sattherwaite joined Anderson in the middle and the two of them went about resseurceting the chase. As they were able to keep turning the strike over it also helped to keep the required run rate down. Anderson was starting to get going with her innings, but just when it looked hopeful that Sattherwaite would push on, she feel to Melie Kerr, caught by Plimmer for 11. English pro, Wilson joined Anderson at the crease. She struggled to get going and eventually was out for 5, with Jetly picking up her first wicket of the day. Abby Gerken was only able to last an over as well with Baird picking up her first Super Smash wicket. Anderson reached her first Super Smash 50 for Canterbury and really needed to push on along with Tahuhu if the home side were to take the win. Both batters knew they had to start attacking and did this. With most overs going for over 10s it looked like the home side were setting up for a big finish. Canterbury’s hopes came crashing down, as Tahuhu was gone, caught by Green from Devine’s bowling for a quick 16 runs. Anderson however was left with too big of a job to do and her and Banks did last till the end, but weren’t quite able to get their side home. Wellington took the win by 11 runs. Anderson top scored for the home side with 83, whilst Tahuhu was the next top scorer with 16. Singh and Devine both got two wickets while Jetly, Melie Kerr and Baird all got one each. Anderson was also awarded the Dream 11 Game Changer award.
Result: Wellington Blaze win by 11 runs.
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