Allround Frances Mackay leads Canterbury Magicians to second spot  

Canterbury Magicians registered a six-wicket win over Northern Districts via the Duckworth-Lewis method in a match that was reduced to 19-overs a side due to rain in the ongoing Super Smash in Hamilton on Thursday (January 21).



The win took the Magicians to the second spot in the table ahead of Auckland Hearts on net run rate and two points behind the defending champion Wellington Blaze. Frances Mackay once again proved to be the difference-maker in the game taking two wickets in an over twice before contributing with the bat to see Magicians’ fourth win in seven games.



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Batting first, Spirits were off to a great start with Kate Anderson (35) and Brooke Halliday (35) putting on 76 runs for the opening wicket. However, the partnership was finally broken on the last ball of the 12^th over when Amy Satterthwaite (1/35) had the skipper Halliday.



Spirits were into more trouble soon after as Mackay dismissed Anderson and Eimar Richardson (one) in the next over to leave Spirits at 77/3. Caitlin Gurrey (27 not out) and Lucy Boucher (13) then put together 25 runs for the fourth wicket before Mackay was in action again in the 17^th over.



The off-spinner this time sent back home Felicity Leydon-Davis and Boucher for zero and 13 respectively to bring Spirits down to 103/5. They finally finished at 124 for 5 in 19 overs. Magicians were given two extra runs to chase after one was lost when a shower sent the players from the field midway through their innings.



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In reply, Natalie Cox gave Magicians the early momentum with a whirlwind 31 off 16 balls. Mackay at the other end played the second fiddle with a 29-ball 28. Satterthwaite then scored 38 runs off 27 balls to see the team through with 15 balls to spare with six wickets in hand.



Brief scores: Northern Spirit 124/5 in 19 overs (Kate Anderson 35, Brooke Halliday 35; Frances Mackay 4/17) lost to the Canterbury Magicians 129/4 in 16.3 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 38, Natalie Cox 31) by six wickets via DLS method.