On January 11, Wellington hosted an electrifying Women’s Super Smash 2025-26 match that had fans on the edge of their seats, as the home side narrowly defeated Northern Brave Women by a mere three runs. The atmosphere at the Basin Reserve was charged with excitement as the momentum shifted back and forth throughout the game. Wellington, driven by the outstanding performance of Jess Kerr, managed to secure their victory after defending a score of 165/6, while the Brave fell just short at 162/8.
Wellington’s innings started on a cautious note. Georgia Plimmer, opening the batting, was dismissed early, scoring just 5 runs off 14 balls. Lucy Boucher contributed to the early pressure, taking a wicket in the fifth over at 1/26. However, the innings gained momentum as Rebecca Burns entered the fray, racing to 33 runs off just 23 balls, hitting six boundaries and igniting the crowd’s enthusiasm. Unfortunately, her dismissal, caught by Kayley Knight off Marama Downes, came at a crucial moment, leaving Wellington at 2/37 in the sixth over.
Hannah Francis added 9 runs but fell victim to Nensi Patel at 3/54. The turning point for Wellington came when captain Jess Kerr walked to the crease. She showcased a perfect blend of power and finesse, smashing 53 runs off 31 balls, including five fours and a massive six, all at an impressive strike rate of over 170. Her partnerships with Xara Jetly, who scored 31 off 31 balls, and Jessica McFadyen, who tallied 12 not out from 5 balls, helped stabilise the innings after some shaky moments. Jetly was dismissed as she looked to build on a strong position, with Wellington sitting comfortably at 4/139.
Late contributions from Isla McKenzie and Sam Mackinder, who scored 2 and 11 not out off 4 balls respectively, helped Wellington finish their innings with a competitive total of 165/6. The bowling performance for the Brave was mixed; Kayley Knight conceded 33 runs but took a wicket, while Nensi Patel impressed with figures of 2/28. Marama Downes had a solid outing as well, capturing 1/22.
In response, Northern Brave Women started positively with captain Jess Watkin smashing 28 off 22 balls, including four boundaries within the powerplay. However, Wellington regrouped and struck back when Jetly had her caught, leaving the Brave at 2/42. Tash Wakelin fell to a run-out, and Caitlin Gurrey managed 14 runs before Jetly claimed another wicket, putting the Brave behind at 3/93.
The momentum shifted thanks to Eve Wollond, who delivered an exhilarating performance, scoring 70 runs off 48 balls with nine fours and two sixes. She kept Northern Brave in contention through crucial partnerships, even as wickets started to tumble around her. When Marina Lamplough and others fell quickly, it became apparent that the finishing push relied on Wollond and tailender Holly Topp.
As the match drew closer to a conclusion, 15 runs were needed off the final over. Rachel Bryant remained calm under pressure, but Wollond fell right before the final overs. Topp’s efforts brought the Brave to 162/8, just short of clinching victory, and Wellington celebrated a nail-biting three-run win.
Wellington’s bowlers distributed the workload efficiently, with Xara Jetly being the star with 3/40. Jess Kerr capped off her impressive game with bowling figures of 1/26, while Nicole Baird and others contributed with economical spells. The match highlighted a blend of standout performances, daring shots, and emotional ups and downs, ultimately sealed by Jess Kerr’s half-century and Jetly’s crucial wickets, marking it as another classic in the Women’s Super Smash series.
Loves all things female cricket