T20 title the perfect send-off for captain

Kate Anderson set them up, and Amy Satterthwaite fittingly had the final say, as the Canterbury Magicians stormed to the women’s Super Smash Twenty20 title in Christchurch yesterday.

The hosts at Hagley Oval extinguished top-qualifiers the Wellington Blaze by 12 runs in the decider, which gave captain Satterthwaite the perfect send-off in her record-breaking, and last, T20 match for the province.

On the final ball of the match she whipped off the bails at the bowler’s end for her side’s 10th wicket and then ran into jubilant team-mates’ arms as her side sealed victory against a Blaze side which had won four of the past five titles and last month registered a record 19-game winning run.

It was Anderson’s sublime 95 off 62 which powered Canterbury to their 145-9, and the bowlers then stuck to the task.

After eight years at Northern Districts, Anderson’s first season in red and black saw her finish as the leading runscorer in the competition, and her sixth half century, her highest career T20 score, was her most vital.

She immediately went to business against the Blaze’s quartet of

spinners, using her feet to good effect, bringing up her 50 off just 30 balls.

That fine opening stand was ended only thanks to a great diving outfield catch from Charli Knott, and the Australian import then landed another big blow next over when handed the ball and having Satterthwaite trapped in front for a second-ball duck.

And from a position of great strength, the Magicians slumped badly, with some soft dismissals, and the Blaze would have been the happier side at the interval.

In reply, the visitors got off to their own decent start, reaching 53-1 after the powerplay, and 69-2 at the halfway mark.

Just as Rebecca Burns (18 off 10) was taking off, she was trapped in front by Missy Banks’ first ball, though Thamsyn Newton (24 off 20) and Jess McFadyen (30 off 30) put the chasers in good position.

But, just like the Magicians’ innings, things fell apart through the middle, leaving the Blaze needing 26 off the final two overs, which proved too much of an ask.

The big moment

With the game on a knife-edge, Laura Harris attempted to smoke Banks over long-off last ball of the 13th over, only to not get all of it and find Satterthwaite on the fence.

Best with the bat

Anderson’s 95 off 62 was a knock right out of the box, made better considering the pressure of a final, and even more so as she had to carry her side after their bad collapse. She hit the ball hard and straight, both along the ground and in the air, crunching 14 fours and a six.

Best with the ball

After taking the wicket of Burns with her first ball, Banks then also took the big one of Harris, and ended with an excellent 2-17 off her four overs.

The big picture

The two sides will now turn their attention to the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-day competition, where they occupy the top two spots through six of 10 rounds before the final.