Peterson, Perkins, MacKay, Savage shine on Day 2 of Hallyburton Johnstone Shield

Central Hinds, the defending champions, maintained their top spot in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield table despite their match against Otago Sparks getting washed out on Sunday (November 17). Hinds have seven points from their opening weekend against the Sparks followed by Wellington Blaze (5), who lost to fifth-placed Auckland Hearts (4) on Sunday.

Third and fourth Canterbury Magicians and Northern Spirit, respectively, also have four points with a marginal net run rate deciding the former pecking order in the table.

Earlier in the day, Auckland Hearts' new skipper Anna Peterson posted her first century in her first win as a captain. Peterson (102* off 99 balls) combined with fellow New Zealand teammate Katie Perkins (101* off 94 balls) in a solid unbeate 198-run stand for the fourth wicket in a competitive 262 for the loss of three at the Basin Reserve after sent in to bat by Wellington Blaze.

The knock marked Peterson's maiden List A century, a third hundred and a career-best for Perkins. The duo surpassed former Hearts' fourth-wicket partnership record of 157 not out that had been set by Sara McGlashan and Maddy Green two seasons before. Although Blaze troubled Hearts at 64 for the loss of three but the experienced duo held the fort from the 22nd over, picking up the pace as they batted through the remainder of the innings. Perkins started cautiously but blasted seven boundaries in the space of just 10 deliveries to reach the three-digit figure.

In reply, Blaze made a strong start before Peterson kept them in check with her spin bowling. Jess McFadyen (45) and Rebecca Burns (58) put on a 97-run stand for the opening wicket, followed by McFadyen sharing a 40-run stand with Liz Perry (55). However, Peterson bowled both Perry and Burns shortly after they had reached their respective fifties, proving just enough to take away crucial momentum. Roz McNeill meanwhile picked up 2/58.

Peterson finished with 4/43 off her 10 overs in a tense match that saw Blaze falling just nine runs short after Holly Huddleston conceded just three runs off the penultimate over. Blaze needed 27 off 14 balls. Arlene Kelly took the ball for the last over and while Maneka Singh found the boundary thrice, she and Xara Jetly could score only 14 runs in a tough final over.

Elsewhere, in her 100th game for  Canterbury Magicians, Frankie Mackay ensured turning the tables on Northern Spirit to square the ledger from the opening weekend. Sent in by the Spirit, captain Mackay led from the front with both bat and ball, getting her side off to a healthy start with a top score of 75 off 102 balls. She batted into the 32nd over before hopes of a magic hundred in the hundredth game were dashed as she became the third victim. The platform was solidly constructed and enabled her teammates to play with freedom - Missy Banks blasting her unbeaten 21 off just 14 balls.

The hosts reached 234 for the loss of eight while Spirit's Eimear Richardson claimed 4/59. Katie Gurrey loomed as the key threat in the chase. The in-form Spirit opener was looking on, racing to 83 off just 79 balls before she was caught off Sarah Asmussen in the 27th over.  Mckay returned with 4/20, which saw two maiden overs. She was ably assisted by Jacinta Savage (4/41) before Gabby Sullivan wrapped up the last wicket in the 46th over to stop either teammate reaching a five-for. Spirit crumbled and were bundled out for 205.

The national one-day tournament will resume on November 30 with double rounds at Dunedin's University of Otago Oval, Wellington's Karori Park and Auckland's Eden Park Outer Oval.