Mackay casts her magic spell as Canterbury win

Frankie Mackay twice took two wickets in the space of three balls then fired at the top of the order as the Canterbury Magicians beat the Northern Spirit in the Twenty20 Super Smash yesterday. The win moved the Magicians up to second on the table, ahead of the Auckland Hearts on net run rate and two points behind the defending champion Wellington Blaze, and it is now extremely likely those three teams will be the three finalists.

Mackay finished with 4-17 from her four overs of off-spin, while seamer Lea Tahuhu conceded just

14 off her three overs as the Spirit posted 124-5 from their 19 overs, after one was lost when a shower sent players from the field at Hamilton’s Seddon Park midway through the innings.

Kate Anderson and Brooke Halliday got the hosts off to a strong start after they were sent in by Mackay, but after they were both dismissed for 35, off 38 and 35 balls respectively, the Spirit lost their way.

Amy Satterthwaite had Halliday caught by Gabby Sullivan, then Mackay had Anderson caught by Satterthwaite and the Spirit went from 76-0 to 77-3 when she followed up and had Eimear Richardson caught by Laura Hughes for one.

Katie Gurrey finished not out on 27 off 18 as the Spirit posted 124-5 and the Magicians were given two extra runs to chase as a result of the interruption.

Natalie Cox made 31 off 16 balls to give the Magicians some early momentum, while Mackay added 28 off 29 balls and Satterthwaite made 38 off 27.

Cox’s early efforts meant the asking rate was well in hand throughout, and they eventually got there with 15 balls and six wickets in hand, while Charlotte Sarsfield took 3-39.

The Magicians are back in action on Monday to play the Blaze in a top-of-the-table clash in Wellington.

There is now a six-point gap between the Hearts in third and the fourth-placed Spirit, who only have two matches left to play, and need to win both while hoping the Hearts or Magicians don’t win again to make the top three.