Kerr lifts Blaze

Wellington Blaze look bound for the women’s Super Smash Twenty20 final after a coolheaded Jess Kerr guided them home in their top of the table clash yesterday.

With her White Fern sister Amelia back in the pavilion, Jess Kerr swung hard and decisively for a crucial 10-ball cameo of 20 not out off to help the Blaze beat the Canterbury Magicians by four wickets in Wellington.

Chasing 150 to win at the Basin Reserve, it was in the balance after power hitting opener Rebecca Burns (62 off 43 balls) departed to the spin of Canterbury’s Frances Mackay (2-24 off four).

Mackay also removed Jess McFadyen in the 19th over but Kerr smashed the next ball for four to leave the hosts needing six off the last over.

Kerr found the rope to the third ball from Kate Ebrahim then clouted the next one to the fielder, hard enough for them the scamper a single and claim the victory.

Earlier, the Magicians reached a competitive total of 149-4 thanks to Erin Bermingham’s 65 not out off 40 balls, while legspinner Amelia Kerr took 1-34 off her four overs then was dismissed for one with the bat, at No 3 for the Blaze.

Victory saw the Blaze maintain their competition lead after completing all 10 of their regular season matches, but they face a nervous wait with nearest challengers Auckland (one) and

Canterbury (two) having matches in hand. The top-two sides qualify for the final later this month.

The Hearts kept themselves in the hunt with a 24-run win over Northern Spirit in Hamilton yesterday.

The visitors posted 148-5 with Arlene Kelly’s late strikes boosting the total as she ended 41 not out.

Northern relied on a lone hand from White Fern Bernadine Bezuidenhout who was 77 not out at the end but wickets tumbled around her and they finished 124-7 off their 20 overs.

Kelly and White Ferns spinner Anna Peterson did the job with the ball for the Hearts.

The other match between Otago and Central was abandoned due to the Dunedin rain.