Auck Hearts move into women’s T20 lead
The Auckland Hearts pipped the Cantebury Magicians by 20 runs at Hagley Oval yesterday to move to the top of the women’s Twenty20 Super Smash table.
A succession of key breakthroughs pegged the Magicians backed as they chased 139 to win on their home turf in Christchurch, where they were seeking to lead the ladder themselves but were eventually dismissed for 118 with four balls remaining.
Teenage left-arm spinner Fran Jonas had White Fern Amy Satterthwaite stumped by Sarah Carnachan at the end of the 12th over for 32 off 33 balls, while seamer Bella Armstrong had
Kate Ebrahim caught by Prasad for 31 off 35 four overs later.
That pair had shared in a 58-run partnership across 7.5 overs but as Ebrahim departed, the Magicians needed 42 runs off 24 balls and once seamer Jesse Prasad removed Laura Hughes and Jacinta Savage in the same over, the equation had become 34
off 18.
Holly Huddleston then dismissed Emma Kench for a golden duck while Kirsty Nation was run out, before Gabby Sullivan found the boundary twice in the penultimate over from Prasad, who finished with 2-28 from three overs. Huddleston bowled the final over, where 21 runs were needed, and dismissed Sullivan with her first ball and Kristy Havill with her second to seal the result and finish with figures of 3-8 from 3.2 overs.
The Hearts were sent in after Magicians captain Frankie Mackay won the toss and lost White Ferns Anna Peterson and Katie Perkins early, which brought captain Lauren Down and Armstrong together.
They shared in a partnership of 63 off 52 balls for the third wicket before Mackay had Armstrong caught for 39 off 29.
Mackay then pulled off a smart run out – deflecting a ball hit back at her onto the stumps – to remove Down for 33 off 39.
The off-spinner finished with 1-19 off her four overs, while Sullivan was also economical, conceding just 25 runs off her four.
Saachi Shahri made an unbeaten 30 off 28, while Huddleston added 18 off 16.