Hinds take first loss of season
The Central Hinds have suffered their first loss of the season, going down to Wellington a day after dominating the same team.
At Donnelly Park, Levin, on Sunday, the Hinds narrowly came second in a seesawing Hallyburton Johnstone Shield battle that ended with Wellington crawling past their target of 188 with seven balls and two wickets to spare.
It was a day where the spinners dominated on a slow pitch, but other bowlers proved easier to hit.
Saturday’s clash between the sides was all over before 3pm, with the Hinds repeating their victories over Auckland by bowling first, rolling the opposition and racing to the target. On Sunday, it was different. Central won the toss and elected to bat, but were teetering at 6-64, before Manawatu¯ allrounders Hannah Rowe and Georgia Atkinson rescued the innings.
The pair each made their first 50s for the Hinds, with Rowe perishing in the final over for 62 off 101 balls and Atkinson making 58 off 72. They added 111 runs in 22 overs, enabling the Hinds to make a competitive 187.
Wellington slowly ticked along, losing wickets at regular intervals, but not collapsing in a heap. Opener Rebecca Burns made 33, while wicket-keeper Jessica Mcfadyen was not out on 63, having been dropped when she was about 30.
Claudia Green bowled tidily, but the Hinds seamers weren’t as impressive as their spin quartet.
Jess Watkin continued her good form with the ball, grabbing two wickets, as did Atkinson and Mikaela Greig.
Wellington lost their sixth wicket for 105 and seventh for 149, but managed to grind out the win.
Hinds coach Jamie Watkins said with a few overs to go the Hinds looked like winners.
‘‘We really should have won from 105-6. We really should have finished them off.’’
The Hinds, who are behind unbeaten Canterbury in second on the table, play Otago in Dunedin in a fortnight.
Central Hinds 187 all out in 49.5 overs (Hannah Rowe 62, Georgia Atkinson 58, Kate Chandler 3-39, Maneka Singh 2-20) lost to Wellington 188-8 in 48.5 overs (Rebecca Burns 33, Jessica Mcfadyen 63 not out, Jess Watkin 2-23, Georgia Atkinson 2-35, Mikaela Greig 2-30) by two wickets.