Northern Māori pip Tāmaki Makaurau Wāhine in final over thriller

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.

Holly Topp wicketkeeps for Northern Māori. Photo credit: @CapturedBy_Charlie / Charlie Pawson

Northern Māori Wāhine came out the better side of a final over thriller against Tāmaki Makauraru with Mollie Drumm’s 3-14 going in vain.

Zamera Ikiua and Sam Barriball were challenged with Anika Todd and Sophie Court upfront.

It was the Aucklanders who made the first move in dismissing the dangerous Barriball for 1 run. Todd was well supported by her keeper Raiha Jeory Reynolds in the process.

The last 3 overs of the powerplay saw a shift in the ND momentum.

Billie East was punished, 11 runs conceded with Skye Bowden suffering a similar fate. Farrell capitalised on a no-ball for 6, ND rounding off the first phase of the game with 44-1 - a contrast to the Northern’s start.

They continued to bat steady before Bowden’s return to the attack marked the end of Farrell’s time at the crease for a run-a-ball 24.

ND Māori captain Holly Topp partnered Ikiua prior to legspinner Mollie Drumm taking the latter out of the game with Jeory Reynolds primed for another catch. She picked up 25 runs in a foundation building knock at the top.

Drumm clean bowled Dayle Anderson in her second over, and assisted in running out Meddy Hyde with Anika Todd. She bowled Olivia Tremain in her final over, finishing with a handy analysis of 4-0-14-3 for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Following the quick wickets, Topp aimed to go big at the back end of the innings to get her team some competitive runs. She amassed 32 runs off 29, but was caught out by Bowden off Todd on the penultimate delivery of the innings.

Northern Māori wracked up 124-7, enough to defend against this attacking Tāmaki Makaurau.

Bowden and Jess Smith got them rolling, extracting 12 runs in the first over from Mia Chatterton. The Aucklanders backed it up with another 17 off Elle Archer.

Topp stuck by her bowlers, reaping the rewards as she stumped Bowden off Chatterton for 18 off 10. Hyde was then introduced, slowing the run rate right down.

Anderson joined her in applying the pressure, which lead to Claire Crooks’ wicket off Hyde as she snuck one through the gate. Smith (29 off 28) was the next to go via a fair grab from Barriball off Anderson, putting the Northern Māori back into the game.

At the halfway point, Tāmaki Makaurau were 69-3 with Todd and Tauwhare in the middle.

It wouldn’t stay that way for long as Anderson cleared Todd from the occasion before she could get going.

Tauwhare and Kaitlyn Halliday were crafting a fine 28-run partnership until the introduction of Sadie Stewart curtailed proceedings. Tauwhare lofted one to Anderson off Stewart, complicating the situation with 22 more runs required from 3.

Northern put up a strong defence, disallowing boundaries and claiming quick wickets, including Halliday. This left the equation 7 off 6 to win in the final over.

A final over thriller ensued, Hyde bowling to Lightbourne and Jeory Reynolds. The desperation from the Auckland camp became visible, with two scrappy run outs all but ending the game for them.

Northern Māori looked the better outfit in the field, the factor which ultimately brought home the win.

TEAMS:

Tāmaki Makaurau: Skye Bowden ©, Sophie Court, Claire Crooks, Mollie Drumm, Billie East, Kaitlyn Halliday, Raiha Jeory Reynolds (WK), Holly Lightbourne, Christelle McGuire, Jess Smith, Anika Tauwhare, Anika Todd.

Northern Māori: Dayle Anderson, Kiri Anderson, Elle Archer, Sam Barriball, Jessica Benge, Mia Chatterton, Ella Farrell, Meddy Hyde, Zamera Ikiua, Sadie Stewart, Holly Topp (C, WK), Olivia Tremain.