Blaze consolidate pole position; Magicians in with a chance of avoiding last spot

In Super Smash on Sunday (January 12), the top two and the bottom two battled among themselves. While Wellington Blaze emerged victorious and consolidated their top spot, Canterbury Magicians won and, with a game to go, raised hoped of avoiding being the wooden spoon-holders in this edition.

At Basin Reserve, a sound 54-run opening partnership between Sophie Devine and Maddy Green gave Blaze a solid platform against Auckland Hearts. The target was 140 and the duo gave them a brisk start during their alliance that lasted just over six overs. Devine was the first to go, falling for a 17-ball 29, hitting four fours and a six in the process.

Amelia Kerr then joined Green, who was moving steadily. Their partnership was worth 57 runs during which, Amelia scored 34 runs. Anna Peterson stalled her progress and eventually finished with two wickets.

Soon after, Green brought up her half century. She was eventually dismissed for 58 in 53 balls, a knock that featured eight fours, leaving Blaze on the doorstep of victory.

Earlier in the game, Lauren Down got off the blocks quickly after Hearts chose to bat. She hit six fours in her 25-ball knock, scoring 33 runs. Katie Perkins, coming one down, hit a fluent half century and stayed unbeaten on 56 with six fours. The other Hearts batters failed to convert their starts and as a result, they could post five for 139.

Amelia was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets while Deandra Doughty, Jess Kerr and Leight Kasperek picked up one apiece. By virtue of the win, Blaze finished the league stage without losing a single game.

2 run outs in 2 balls!



A strong bowling and fielding effort by the MAGICIANS has restricted the @ndcricket Spirit to 110.



SCORECARD | https://t.co/mN6KvKfypg#wearecanterbury #cricketnation #supersmashnz pic.twitter.com/J1yMK2D9aA

— Canterbury Cricket (@CanterburyCrick) January 12, 2020

In the battle between the bottom two of the table at Bay Oval, Jacinta Savage held Magicians’ chase together with a 39-ball 42. They were chasing a mere 111 and she had walked in at the early fall of Kirsty Nation (10) in the third over.

Savage added 49 with Frankie Mackay (19 off 31 balls) for the third wicket to pretty much give Magicians that one big partnership they needed. For Northern Spirit, Carolyn Esterhuizen returned with two for 18.

Earlier, a spirited bowling performance from Magicians saw Spirit being bowled out for 110. Jessica Simmons and Mackay picked up two wickets each.

Olivia Lobb, the wicketkeeper-batter for Spirit, top-scored with 33 after walking in at four for 25 inside the power play. She hit two fours in her run-a-ball knock.

Spirit finished Super Smash 2019-20 with eight points, winning just two games. If Magicians win their last match against Otago Sparks, Spirit would finish at the bottom of the table.

Brief Scores:

Auckland Hearts 139/5 in 20 overs (Katie Perkins 56*, Lauren Down 33; Amelia Kerr 2/29) lost to Wellington Blaze 141/3 in 18.2 overs (Maddy Green 58, Amelia Kerr 34; Anna Peterson 2/26) by seven wickets.

Northern Spirit 110 all out in 18.2 overs (Olivia Lobb 33; Jessica Simmons 2/14, Frankie Mackay 2/19) lost to Canterbury Magicians 111/5 in 19.4 overs (Jacinta Savage 42; Carolyn Esterhuizen 2/18) by five wickets.