Canterbury Magicians scamper home against Northern Spirit

Bowl first, restrict the opposition, chase the total down – that is precisely what Canterbury Magicians did against Northern Spirit at the Hagley Oval on Sunday (January 5) in their Super Smash clash.

Katie Gurrey and Bernadine Bezuidenhout started steadily after being inserted. The first wicket fell on 30, but Spirit soon found themselves five down for 32. Jacinta Savage struck thrice in the last over of the power play, accounting for Gurrey (18), Kate Anderson (0) and Eimear Richardson (0).

Thankfully for Spirit, a 91-run partnership between Brooke Halliday and Lucy Boucher helped them get out of the rut. While Halliday scored 43 from 37 balls hitting five fours, Boucher stayed unbeaten on a steady 41, taking 43 balls and hitting four fours and a six in the process. As a result, Spirit could post a decent 125 for seven.

Apart from Savage’s three-fer, Lea Tahuhu also chipped in with three wickets, including that of Halliday.

In reply, Magicians were put on course by a 40-run opening stand between Kirsty Nation (19) and Frankie Mackay. The latter moved on steadily and looked set to take her side over the line as well as hit a half century. However, she was run out eight short of the fifty-run mark and left her side needing 15 runs in 14 balls.

Magicians made it tougher for themselves, losing two more wickets before crossing the line in the final over to win with four wickets in the bank and three balls to spare. Carolyn Esterhuizen picked up two for 26 for Spirit but that wasn’t enough.

Brief Scores: Northern Spirit 125/7 in 20 overs (Brooke Halliday 43, Lucy Boucher 41*; Jacinta Savage 3/11, Lea Tahuhu 3/31) lost to Canterbury Magicians 126/6 in 19.3 overs (Frankie Mackay 42; Carolyn Esterhuizen 2/26) by four wickets.