Blaze deny Satterthwaite fairytale farewell in thrilling one-day final
They can’t all end in fairytales.
Retiring Kiwi cricket legend Amy Satterthwaite was denied the perfect send-off in her final domestic outing, as the Wellington Blaze pipped her Canterbury Magicians in a thrilling Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final in Queenstown yesterday.
Led by a hundred from Maddy Green, a half-century from Jess McFadyen, a four-for from captain Leigh Kasperek, and nerves of steel from 19-year-old left-arm spinner Nicole Baird when bowling the 50th over, the Blaze held on for a dramatic four-run victory at Sir John Davies Oval to claim their first one-day title since the 2003-04 season, when they shared it with Canterbury, and their first outright since 1989-90.
They had been bridesmaids 10 times since, including last year to Otago, and it’s now five different winners in five seasons, while it was also a touch of revenge for the women from the capital after they had fallen to the Magicians in the T20 Super Smash final last month.
Satterthwaite, in her 323rd and final List A game, had scored 103 not out, 75, then 66 in her last three innings in the lead-up to the final, and after a second-ball duck in that T20 finale, the former White Ferns star threatened to do the business and get the Magicians to the 259 required for victory here, going on to top-score for the chasers with 66 off 72.
She came to the crease in the 13th over with her side 45-2 after Kasperek had Laura Hughes out to a stunning slip catch from Rebecca Burns, who reacted brilliantly and held on after two juggles.
Satterthwaite combined with Kate Anderson in a 63-run stand, to keep the asking rate in check just above six per over, but when Kasperek had Anderson tonk to long-on, then in her next over had
Natalie Cox slicing to point, Canterbury were 116-4 in the 29th.
Beard then delivered a maiden to Jodie Dean, and followed up by skittling her off-stump, and a glorious Satterthwaite send-off then looked rather unlikely when the woman herself departed first ball of the 45th over when running past a wide – literally – one from Kasperek and being stumped.
It left the Magicians six down needing near 10 an over, but Jacinta Savage carried on to play a blinder with an unbeaten 58 off 54, while it was Satterthwaite’s partner, Lea Tahuhu (31 off 22), who helped make it memorable.
Taking 14 then 11 off the 48th and 49th overs, Canterbury needed 14 off the last, and after Tahuhu crashed Baird’s first ball for four, it was all on.
Singles came off the next two deliveries before Tahuhu swept a full-toss for two, but with six required off two she dragged the in-ducker onto her poles. It left Missy Banks with the task of clearing the rope first ball for the win but she only got a single.