Hearts, Hinds make it four from four

The Auckland Hearts and Central Hinds have quickly become the frontrunners in the women’s domestic one-day competition.

Defending champions Auckland and Central both remained unbeaten and improved to 4-0 in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield after banking a pair of victories over the weekend.

The Hinds thumped neighbours Wellington in both matches in Palmerston North over the weekend. They cruised to a 124-run win on Saturday after seamer Monique Rees snared 5-14 to help dismiss Wellington for just 75 in response to Central’s 199.

Wellington were outplayed again yesterday with the Hinds cruising to a seven wicket win after Rees’ three wickets helped restrict the Blaze to 106.

Auckland overcame the Northern Spirit in both matches at Colin Maiden Park with opener Lauren Down playing a pivotal part in their success.

Down notched 49 in Saturday’s seven-run Duckworth-lewis method win and then hit 108 from 120 balls in yesterday’s seven-wicket triumph.

She was one of three batters to bring up centuries yesterday, along with Canterbury skipper Frances Mackay (115) and Northern opener Katie Gurrey (102).

Mackay was influential in guiding previously winless Canterbury to their first victory of the competition.

Her ton and 192-run second wicket stand with White Fern Kate Ebrahim, who scored 82, was vital in getting the Magicians through to 275-7 in Oamaru.

Otago, who beat Canterbury by 43 runs on Saturday, were unable to make it back-to-back wins as they were limited to 229.

Mackay followed up her outstanding showing with the bat, taking 4-34 from nine overs with her offspin.

Gurrey’s century was in vain for Northern as they lost their fourth straight match to start the competition.

At a glance

Round three (Saturday):

At Colin Maiden Park, Auckland:

Auckland 203-6 (Lauren Down 49, Maddy Green 38, Holly Huddleston 32; Kate Anderson 3-38) beat Northern 121-4 (Katie Gurrey 48) by seven runs D/L method.

At Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North:

Central 199 (Kerry-anne Tomlinson 67, Esther Lanser 38; Allex Evans 3-33)

beat Wellington 75 (Monique Rees 5-14) by 124 runs.

At Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru: Otago 172-9 (Alice Davidson-richards 50, Katey Martin 36; Kate Ebrahim 3-30) beat

Canterbury 129 (Ebrahim 18; Ella Brown 3-18) by 43 runs.

Round four (Sunday):

At Colin Maiden Park, Auckland:

Northern 220-7 (Katie Gurrey 102, Bernadine Bezuidenhout 47; Bella Armstrong 4-48) lost to Auckland 221-3 (Lauren Down 108, Maddy Green 44) by seven wickets. At Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North:

Wellington 106 (Lucy Doolan 33; Hannah Rowe 3-18, Jess Watkin 3-18, Monique Rees 3-29) lost to Central 107-3 (Natalie Dodd 40no, Kerry-anne Tomlinson 28) by seven wickets. At Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru: Canterbury 275-7 (Frances Mackay 115, Kate Ebrahim 82; Leigh Kasperek 3-40) beat Otago 229 (Katey Martin 45; Mackay 4-34) by 46 runs.

Points after four rounds: Central 20, Auckland 19, Otago 9, Canterbury 4, Wellington 4, Northern 0.