Magicians move to second
The Auckland Hearts are one win away from being crowned Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champions.
Their eight-wicket, bonus-point demolition of the Central Hinds on Sunday, combined with the Wellington Blaze’s shock loss to the Northern Spirit, meant they now lead the competition by eight points over second-placed Canterbury with two games to play.
With no finals in this year’s women’s competitions, a win in either of their two final games against the Spirit would be enough for them to secure the 50-over title.
Sunday’s match at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North saw Auckland’s bowlers at their restrictive best, bowling Central out for 157 in 44.3 overs. Bella Armstrong was the pick with 3-15 from six overs, but three others also picked up two each.
It was the Lauren Down show in the chase as she scored a patient 66 off 99 balls, which included just four boundaries.
The pressure was off her to score when first-drop and captain Maddy Green hit a run-a-ball 35, enabling Down to stay through to the finish to see out the victory with almost 20 overs to spare.
Wellington were always in trouble when managing just 196 at Karori Park against the Northern Spirit, who came into the match with just one win in seven 50-over games, including a 23-run loss to the Blaze on Saturday (the only completed game due to weather).
The Blaze lost regular wickets throughout their innings, but a handy 30 off 28 balls from No 8 Jess Kerr meant they at least had a target to bowl at. It was a slow and steady approach to the chase from the Spirit, led by their skipper Natalie Dodd.
She scored 62 off 131 balls opening the batting, which left the rest of the batting order with a bit of work to do when she was caught off the bowling of Kerr in the 40th over to make the score 136-3.
Felicity Leydon-Davis looked as though she might take her side on to victory, but Kerr got her as well at the end of the 44th over. It was then left to Katie Gurrey to secure the win, belting 25 off 18 balls to get her side home with seven balls to spare.
Canterbury ensured they leapfrogged Wellington into second, while creating a definitive split in the six-team table with a six-wicket, bonus-point win over fourth-placed Otago. They restricted Otago to 195 all out in their innings thanks to 4-26 from White Fern Erin Bermingham, with Leigh Kasperek (63) and Katey Martin (57) the only Otago batsmen who really got anything going.
Kate Ebrahim scored 61 not out in the chase, and was ably supported by Bermingham (40) and Frances Mackay (31) as their side got home with 10 overs to spare.