Blaze prove too good for Central

The Central Hinds’ unbeaten run in the women’s domestic one-day cricket competition is over.

The Wellington Blaze beat Central by two wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield

50-over match in Levin yesterday, running down the hosts’ score of

187 with seven balls to spare. This was Central’s first defeat in four games, and it was Jess McFadyen who caused much of their discomfort; McFayden had good reason to be satisfied with her contribution, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 71 balls.

That isn’t to suggest Central rolled over. They made Wellington fight but with McFayden, who smacked a six and four boundaries, in such regal form they struggled to get the upper hand and eventually capitulated in the 49th over.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of walking through Queen’s Park in Invercargill may have been treated to the sound of birdsong from a tui.

Unfortunately, for the Otago Sparks, there was not much to chirp about after the Auckland Hearts beat them by three wickets.

This left Otago sitting at the bottom of the competition table, with no wins.

Meanwhile, the Canterbury Magicians were too good for Northern Districts in Whangarei notching a 35-run win to go to the top of the table as the only unbeaten team.

Northern were steaming along nicely when open batters Brooke Halliday and Katie Gurrey put on a first-wicket stand of 143 runs. Once they departed, having contributed 77 and 49, respectively, the Northern ship wobbled and they were eventually bowled out for 214 in the 47th over. Kate Ebrahim

(63), Nat Cox (45) and Missy Banks

(45) were the best with the bat for Canterbury.