Hearts spoil Spirit’s party plans
A blazing batting display has seen the Auckland Hearts play party poopers and claim the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield women’s one-day cricket title against the Northern Spirit in Hamilton.
The Spirit, in their 21st season, had been perennial strugglers on the domestic scene, and had never played in a final – 50-over or T20 – until yesterday at Seddon Park.
However, their task of capturing a maiden trophy was made a mountainous task, thanks to Auckland, batting first after winning the toss, racking up a whopping 322-5 – their equalhighest total in history.
A superb fighting hundred from Spirit captain Felicity Leydon-Davis kept her side in the fight, but the writing was always on the wall, with the hosts eventually bowled out for 255 and falling to a 67-run defeat.
Having beaten Auckland by five runs at the same ground during the round robin last month, the Spirit – who had finished bottom of the table four of the past five seasons (and second-tobottom in 2016-17) – would have rated their chances of making some history, against a Hearts side who had been in the final the last eight years. half century before this season – stroked 11 fours in her 121-ball knock, while Down hit seven fours and two sixes, to really send the momentum the way of the visitors.
Katie Perkins then came in and struck 63 off 50, as each of the Spirit bowlers were taken for more than 5.5 an over, and the Hearts got past 300 for just the second time in their existence.
The Spirit had only been past 300 once themselves, and this represented something bigger than they had ever made before.
And with opening bowlers Kelly and Holly Huddleston proving tidy, the required rate quickly grew into the eight an over territory.
However, a sublime captain’s knock of 124 off 120 balls from Leydon-Davis, at No 3, kept her side in with a shot.
The 25-year-old’s second domestic century featured 12 fours and a six, as she batted with maturity and class to keep things interesting.
But, in the end, the demanding run rate proved too much to live with for the middle and lower order.
No batter past No 5 was able to notch double figures.
Left-arm spinner Fran Jonas picked up 3-46 off 7.5 overs, with Leydon-Davis being run out to end the innings in 44.5 overs.