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Kiwi Cricket Kōrero host and writer Ellie Indie writes on the seventeenth fixture of the Women’s Super Smash 2022–23 season (originally written 14/1/23)
A slow start for the Hinds that accelerated far too late made an easy target for Prue Catton & Co. to chase down. With impactful innings from Kerry Tomlinson, Hannah Rowe, Prue Catton and Amie Hucker — Catch all the action here.
Auckland Hearts vs Central Hinds at the Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland.
Coming into the match:
Auckland come off a loss at the same venue versus the Canterbury Magicians
The Hinds enter the match with a close game against the Wellington Blaze.
Auckland Hearts playing XI: Saachi Shahri, Prue Catton, Lauren Down ©, Bella Armstrong, Katie Perkins, Arlene Kelly, Holly Huddleston, Makayla Templeton, Amie Hucker, Molly Penfold, Sarah Carnachan (WK)
In & Out: No changes.
No changes for the side that lost at Eden Park in a tense fixture against Canterbury. Holly Huddleston fresh off a 4-for, and Katie Perkins with a solid run-a-ball 35.
Central Hinds playing XI: Nat Dodd (WK), Georgia Atkinson, Jess Watkin ©, Mikaela Greig, Kerry Tomlinson, Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Emily Cunningham, Melissa Hansen, Claudia Green, Flora Devonshire.
IN: Melissa Hansen | OUT: Ocean Bartlett
Just the one change for the Central Hinds travelling to Auckland, Melissa Hansen comes in for Ocean Bartlett.
Auckland won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Auckland’s star of their previous game (taking her best T20 figures of 4–21) Holly Huddleston got things started, this time at the opposite end. The same pair, Nat Dodd and Georgia Atkinson, who brought up the Hinds record opening partnership started once more. A tidy over from the pacer, Arlene Kelly followed suit leaving the Hinds 5–0 after 2.
A moment of innovation from Atkinson — her trademark as of late; a scoop to fine leg for 3 runs came after some serious dot ball pressure from Huddleston. A cut to the ropes saw the in-form Dodd reach her first four of the game.
Atkinson’s run would be cut short — the first ball of Amie Hucker’s spell and the first bowling change of the game saw her middle and leg stump fly out via a lethal yorker. Jess Watkin instantly started the recovery mission as the side were 17–1 after 4.1, launching the ball into the legside for 4 in true Watkin fashion. 3 dots followed, the batter sent it straight in the direction of Hucker with a one handed grab. Trouble for the Hinds, 21–2 after 5.
A heart-in-mouth moment for new batter Tomlinson, already half way down the track she was sent back by a statue-like Dodd opening a big chance for a run out. With some quick running, she made it back in time. Penfold’s first over being a safe one for the Hearts, and Hucker returning, the team in green were 30–2 after 7 — needing a bump in the run rate.
Tomlinson responded with back to back fours, both flying straight over the keeper Carnachan with two impressive late cuts to build a solid partnership with Dodd the travelling team saw at the Basin. Bella Armstrong saw a handy over just giving away the 4, visible improvements from prior games.
A silent few overs for the Hinds followed after the halfway mark, Makayla Templeton introduced into the attack for the first time this season giving off 3 runs, then just a single in her two over spell. Armstrong continued with her improvements and Hucker brought on for a breakthrough. Nothing came of it — a four flying right over mid-on via Tomlinson. The Hinds 59–2 after 13.
Another chance came just two balls into Templeton’s third, Penfold at extra cover in an awkward position to take the ball saw danger woman Tomlinson survive another spell. A half hearted lbw call shot down after, she guided the ball safely past long off to ensure the Hinds innings kept ticking along. Hucker went on to bowl her last and finished equalling her best figures of 2–20. The Hearts’ biggest impacts coming from the very player, the Hinds were 70–2 after 15.
Tomlinson looked to take on the spin of Templeton early on, not quite finding the gaps previously to do so. A massive 6 sent into the banks of Eden Park after making her intentions clear, she brought up the 50 partnership between her and Dodd — however the run rate still under 5 and the Hearts providing the goods. The Hinds 78–2 after 16.
Amie Hucker was once again at the centre of yet another wicket, coming off the bowling of Arlene Kelly, a slower delivery deceiving the batter meant the ball fell short and into the hands of Hucker. Tomlinson went for 40 off 38, the most aggressive force in the partnership and a key factor in the total today. The Hinds 84–3 after 17.
Penfold with her bit of redemption from her previous drop, Nat Dodd’s tricky stay at the crease ended after 48 balls with just 29 runs coming off it. Situated at extra cover, the catch off Huddleston saw her first of the game and the Hinds in a collapse — 89–4 after 18.
A key over for the Hinds, perhaps coming too late than they’d like off Kelly. Greig and Rowe with identical fours to long off and a handful of singles allowed the side their first double figured-run over. The team 100 was also brought up, as well as the second 6 via Hannah Rowe; a player looking to earn that allrounder title after this season.
Quick running at the back end of the final over left the Hinds on 113–4, with some big impact from the final two batters to grace the crease. A chase on for the Hearts of 114, giving an easy impression though proving tough for the home team in the past at the venue.
Innings breakdown:
It seemed a similar game to the Basin for the Hinds, this time losing wickets fairly early on but having a stable partnership (this time in Dodd and Tomlinson) to provide the bulk of the runs. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t as quick as the game prior. Their slow run rate meant that a tournament-wide par score of 140 just looked out of reach. Auckland have failed to reach 110+ at home this season though, so it’s anybody’s game today.
Amie Hucker was undoubtedly the star of the innings, involved in three of 4 dismissals including a ripe yorker to bowl Atkinson and a quick caught & bowled to see the end of Watkin. Templeton, though wicketless, strangled the batters for runs, going at an economy rate of 4.50. A brilliant and much more improved display for the Hearts, following an all pace powerplay model from the likes of Canterbury & Wellington, who fittingly sit at the top of the table.
Saachi Shahri and Prue Catton to open against the off spin of Jess Watkin. Just the four runs from a well timed cut by Shahri to her over. Catton responded by sending it along the ground and through the covers — with a sweet drive for 4 after. Very much a dot or four scenario, 12–0 after 2 for the Hearts.
Hannah Rowe found a wicket, an edge to Greig at slip saw Shahri go after her singular boundary and brought on the skipper Lauren Down early to the chase. A wicket maiden for her — though conceded 8 byes. The Hearts 20–1 after 3.
Rowe found immense amounts of swing, perplexing experienced campaigner Down — she simply had no answer for what was being dished out. Multiple chances of a caught behind, Rowe had bowled one of the best overs of the competition. She’d yet to go for a run after her 2 overs. The Hearts 22–1 after 5.
Catton had to step it up a gear, with Down shell shocked after one of the best T20 overs to ever be bowled. The junior looked like a senior as she once again timed it well into the off side. A quiet few overs proceeded for the Hearts, a large amount of damage done via the Rowe overs. Catton continued her quest, sending one over long on for a one bounce four. Crafty shots followed, looking confident in taking on Watkin’s spin. The Hearts on a recovery mission from previous overs, 52–1 after 9.
Catton saw two fours in Mair’s over, really getting into the innings and leading from the front with a skipper striking at 50 at the other end. Down sent a loopy one from Devonshire through the covers. The bowler came out of the over with 9 runs to the opposition. Thanks to Catton’s crafty shots, the game looked like Auckland’s despite their start. Needing 43 from 54, they were in no real threats at this point in the game. The Hearts were 73–1 after 12 — the Hearts well ahead of the run rate & where the Hinds were at this stage.
Atkinson was brought on with Hinds skipper Watkin trying to exhaust all her options to pick up a wicket and change the shape of the game. Nothing much came from the change and once more finding herself using 7 bowlers in one game — not sticking to a set plan. Prue Catton inevitably brought up her 50 in just 46 balls, a classy innings with a range of shots, she dug her side out of an early wobble and found the ropes frequently.
Watkin brought herself on, after a flurry of runs in her over she ended the innings of Lauren Down on 24 runs. The delivery after the 100 was brought up after the 15th for the Hearts though, with them within an arm’s reach of the total. Bella Armstrong promoted up the order in hopes to end things quickly after her stint in New Plymouth. Catton was soon sent back to the sheds after sending one up off the bowling of Rowe, and caught by Hansen on 57 — her career best. The Hearts were 103–3 after 16, needing 11 off 24.
It was a cruise for Perkins and Armstrong, no boundaries but singles and twos to finish off the game was enough to see the victory for a side that fought hard for it. The Hearts won by 7 wickets, top scored by Prue Catton on 57 off 49, with Hannah Rowe putting in an outstanding performance of 2–6 (4), including 18 dots.
Innings breakdown:
With a target below a run a ball, you should ideally be able to reach the target. It’s a tad tricky at Eden Park’s outer oval, given its large boundaries, but it allows for the ones and twos needed for such a chase. Shahri gone early, Down’s slow start and one of Rowe’s best overs (ever) put a hint of pressure on the batting side. Catton responded fittingly though, her class coming through to guide the Hearts to a win, with Perkins and Armstrong finishing proceedings.
Watkin once more opted for a 7 bowler attack, something that previously hadn’t worked out for the Hinds. Perhaps a thought the variety would throw off the well set batters, but nothing coming off the initiative. The bowlers hadn’t much to defend today, and despite Hannah Rowe’s magnificent spell, it’s another loss for the team in 5th.
Player of the Match:
Kerry Tomlinson’s admirable innings of 40 off 38 with a flurry of boundaries saw her side put up a respectable total with assistance from Hannah Rowe at the back end with 19* off 10, who had a handy day with the ball with her 2–6. Amie Hucker was a massive asset in the wickets, a clean bowled and a caught & bowled — and a handy catch in the deep to dismiss Tomlinson. Prue Catton top scored with her 52, Lauren Down playing the support role with 24 off 32.
Though for an innings of class, the Player of the Match was Auckland’s Prue Catton for her batting efforts of 57 off 49.
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