Sophie Devine, bowlers help Wellington Blaze retain top spot in the table  

Sophie Devine started from where she left against Otago Sparks the other day, as her scintillating batting at the top of the order once again proved to be the difference for Wellington Blaze in the ongoing Super Smash T20 on Saturday (January 16).



Chasing 118 for victory against Canterbury Magicians, Devine bludgeoned 59 runs off just 26 balls that include three consecutive boundaries in an Amy Satterthwaite over before hitting Jacinta Savage and Frances Mackay for two boundaries in an over each as Blaze raced to 68 without loss at the end of the powerplay.



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There was no stopping for the hard-hitting allrounder smashed Sarah Asmussen for a couple of fours and a six off consecutive balls. However, the joy was short-lived as Devine fell in the next ball as she holed out to Gaby Sullivan with the scoreboard reading 83 in 6.5 overs.



As Devine was taking on the opposition to cleaners, her other partner Maddy Green played a second fiddle with a 28-ball 25. Amelia Kerr too hit an unbeaten 20 to help Blaze romp home in just 13.2 overs to retain the top spot in the standings.



Earlier, Green and Leigh Kasperek spun the web around the Magicians as they combined together for eight wickets to bowl the opposition out for 117 runs. Baring a Satterthwaite (52) half-century and a useful 34 from Kate Ebrahim, none of the Magicians batters could really shine on a bright sunny day.



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Batting first, Magicians had the worst possible start with Mackay and Natalie Cox perishing with just 18 runs on board. The Satterthwaite and Ebrahim duo then added 60 runs for the third wicket before the former was out.



The dismissal of Satterwaite triggered the collapse as Magicians lost their mojo losing the last seven wickets for just 21 runs. For Blaze, Kasperek finished with figures 4/22 while Green went home with 4/9 from her 2.3 overs.



Brief scores: Canterbury Blaze 117 in 19.3 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 52, Kate Ebrahim 34; Leigh Kasperek 4/22, Maddy Green 4/9) lost to Wellington Blaze 118/3 in 13.2 overs (Sophie Devine 56, Maddy Green 25) by seven wickets.