Wellington Storm to Victory, Spirited Northern Performance Brings Victory at Bay Oval

Wellington had another dominant win over Auckland whilst ND also gained the chocolates in the day/night fixture against Canterbury. 

WELLINGTON BLAZE VERSUS AUCKLAND HEARTS - KENNARDS HIRE COMMUNITY OVAL, AUCKLAND

RESULT: WELLINGTON BLAZE WIN BY 9 WICKETS

Auckland got off to a way better start than the game the day before with 41 runs added in the opening stand between Saachi Shahri and Anna Browning. 

The visitors started the day with spin right through the powerplay and this worked well as they only went for 39 runs in the first 10 overs. 

A breakthrough was soon made after the powerplay with Browning out for 23 from 39, and Nicole Baird grabbing the first wicket of the day.

Bella Armstrong then carried on the innings with Shahri, but she was soon walking back to the pavilion for 16, Leigh Kasperek getting her first of five wickets for the day.

Auckland only added four more runs from the loss of Armstrong to the wicket of Shahri with the dangerous opener falling to Kasperek for 35 from 60.

Cate Pedersen and Prue Catton added a further 23 runs for the fourth wicket before a collapse came for the home side. 

Xara Jetly picked up Pedersen for 10 from 38 to start the collapse before Kasperek got Catton (10), Skye Bowden (3), and Hucker (3). Phoenix Williams also picked up the runout for Olivia Anderson for 0. 

The middle-order collapse of Auckland sent them from 102/3 to 110/8. 

Rishika Jaswal (3), and Bree Illing (0) added no further runs, but Elizabeth Buchanan’s 14* got her side up to 129/10 in 42.2 overs.

Shahri top scored with 35 from 60 whilst Kasperek took figures of 5/16 (10) including three maidens. 

Wellington’s batters got their side home with ease and there was little worry for them throughout the innings. 

Jess McFadyen’s 54* opening the innings along with Caitlin King’s 44* at number three saw their side home.

Rebecca Burns was the only wicket to fall with Browning getting her LBW for 23. 

Wellington’s nine-wicket win was a great performance to back up their 157-run win the day before. 

Auckland Hearts XI: Saachi Shahri, Anna Browning, Bella Armstrong, Cate Pedersen, Prue Catton ©, Skye Bowden, Olivia Anderson, Rishika Jaswal, Amie Hucker, Elizabeth Buchanan (WK), Bree Illing, Kate Irwin (12th)

Wellington Blaze XI: Rebecca Burns, Jess McFadyen (WK), Caitlin King, Leigh Kasperek ©, Kate Chandler, Gemma Sims, Monique Rees, Nicole Baird, Xara Jetly, Phoenix Williams, Hannah Francis, Rachel Bryant (12th)

NORTHERN DISTRICTS VERSUS CANTERBURY MAGICIANS - BAY OVAL, MT MAUNGANUI

RESULT: NORTHERN DISTRICTS WIN BY 60 RUNS

Northern didn’t get off to a good start with both openers falling early. Tash Wakelin (3) fell inside the first two overs to Nicola Clayton whilst Nensi Patel (16) fell in the seventh over to debutant Yssa Cullen. 

The loss of the two early wickets brought out some of the most experienced domestic players Caitlin Gurrey and Jess Watkin. 

They combined for a 128-run stand for the third wicket in 23.2 overs. 

Gurrey’s 86 (115) was instrumental in guiding Northern through to their eventual total, whilst Watkin’s 56 (69) provided some quick runs. 

Cullen then made the breakthrough in the 30th over when she had Watkin out and soon also had Sam Barriball for 5 to leave Northern at 160/4.

Eimear Richardson added 15 runs in a 25-run stand with Gurrey but fell to Frankie Mackay, the score now 185/5. 

Holly Topp added 12 runs whilst Lucy Boucher made 9, but in between Topp’s and Boucher’s dismissal, Sarah Asmussen picked up the big wicket of Gurrey to leave Northern at 221/8 following those three wickets. 

Jesse Prasad (16*) and Marama Downes (22*) saw Northern through to 260/8 from their 50 overs with Gurrey’s 86 being the top score. Cullen (3/38) and Mackay (3/45) were the top wicket-takers for Canterbury.

Youngster Abby Gerken and the experienced Mackay opened up for Canterbury with an impressive 70-run stand for the first wicket before Prasad broke through in the 16th over and had Mackay out for 32.

Gerken then went twelve runs later for 39, this time Watkin getting her stumped. The loss of these two quick wickets had brought Jacinta Savage and Izzy Sharp to the crease for the visitors. 

Sharp only managed 1 run in the 20-run stand with Savage, but the partnership of 69 runs between Savage and Nat Cox brought them right back into the game. 

The Northern bowlers were doing well with the ball and the wicket of Savage for 52 in the 37th over changed the game massively.

Northern soon found themselves taking wickets very quickly with Jodie Dean (0), Cox (37), and Gabby Sullivan (0) all back in the pavilion, the score now at 181/7. 

Captain Laura Hughes found herself out 4 with Kayley Knight getting her LBW. Marama Downes then took the wickets of Nicola Clayton (12) and Asmussen (0) to have Canterbury bundled out for 200 runs in 44 overs. 

Savage scored 52 for the visitors while Downes’ four wickets were her best List-A bowling figures. 

Northern Districts XI: Nensi Patel, Tash Wakelin, Caitlin Gurrey, Jess Watkin, Sam Barriball, Eimear Richardson ©, Holly Topp (WK), Lucy Boucher, Jesse Prasad, Marama Downes, Kayley Knight, Marina Lamplough (12th)

Canterbury Magicians XI: Frankie Mackay, Abby Gerken, Jacinta Savage, Izzy Sharp, Nat Cox, Jodie Dean, Laura Hughes (©, WK), Gabby Sullivan, Nicola Clayton, Yssa Cullen, Sarah Asmussen, Harriet Graham (12th)

OTAGO SPARKS VERSUS CENTRAL HINDS  - QUEEN’S PARK, QUEENSTOWN

RESULT: MATCH ABANDONED

The match was abandoned without a bowl bowled.