Damp start to season for the Hinds
The weather was not kind to the Central Hinds in New Plymouth at the weekend, with rain forcing two of three scheduled matches against Otago to be abandoned.
The sides were scheduled to play a Twenty20 on Friday afternoon, followed by one-day matches on Saturday and Sunday at Pukekura Park in the opening round of the women’s domestic competition.
However, only the match on saturday was able to be played.
‘‘It’s disappointing. We’ve had a pretty wet pre-season and there hasn’t been a lot of playing opportunities for the girls,’’ Hinds coach Nigel Brooke said.
‘‘The girls were excited to play here and, even though we got to play on Saturday, it could have been a fantastic weekend for cricket.’’
On Saturday, Otago bowler Millie Cowan took full advantage of cloudy conditions to claim four wickets in her side’s three-wicket victory.
The Hinds struggled to get any momentum behind them in the match as they were tasked with setting a target.
Within the first five overs, the Hinds were reeling at 14-3 and things got worse for them in the 10th over when Michelle Mitchell was caught behind for four runs leaving the side at 21-4.
However, Anlo van Deventer and Kelly Rangi tried to build a partnership to lift the Hinds out of the hole and both looked set for long stays at the crease before the players were forced from the field due to rain.
When play resumed, both van Deventer and Rangi were dismissed within half an hour.
Mikaelgreig, Michelle Mckay and Rosemary Mair followed soon after, with the hosts looking dead in the water at 9-91.
Cue a strong 10th-wicket partnership.
With Manawatu White Fern Hannah Rowe and Taranaki’s Kate Baxter at the crease, the Hinds
were able to add a further 66 runs, before Rowe was bowled on 36.
The 66-run partnership set a new New Zealand record for a 10th wicket stand, with Baxter left at the crease with a career high score of 32 unbeaten.
‘‘It got us back into the match, too,’’ Brooke said. ‘‘There was a huge momentum swing after that partnership.’’
Cowan walked off Pukekura Park with figures of 4-31, while teammate Beth Langston collected figures of 2-22.
Needing 158 to win, Otago got off to a flying start with opening duo Suzie Bates and Shebani Bhaskar scoring 12 off the first over.
The pair put on 45 runs before Bhaskar was bowled by Mckay for seven runs, followed soon after by Bates, who fell to a stunning catch by Rebecca Burns in the slips off the bowling of Mair for 27.
With Mair taking another wicket and Jess Watkin getting in on the action, the Hinds had fought their way back into the match with the Sparks sitting on 4-57.
However, Otago’s Katey Martin took over the game, with her 39 runs lifting the side well over the 100 mark and Cowan’s 29 all but bringing the Otago side home.
With three wickets in hand, the visitors hit the winning runs.
The Hinds head to Auckland next weekend for the second round of the competition, starting with a Twenty20 on Friday.