Northern Brave held their nerve to register a dramatic one-wicket win over Auckland Hearts in the 26th match of the Women’s Super Smash 2025–26 at the Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland. In a low-scoring contest dominated by disciplined bowling, the Brave chased down 104, reaching 104 for 9 in 17.4 overs, after Auckland Hearts had earlier been restricted to 103 for 4 in 18 overs.
After winning the toss, Auckland Hearts chose to bat first, hoping to make use of familiar conditions. However, they found run-scoring difficult from the outset against a tight Northern Brave bowling attack. Early wickets kept Auckland in check, with boundaries hard to come by on a surface that offered assistance to bowlers. The innings was held together by Izzy Gaze, who once again proved her value at the top of the order.
Gaze played a composed knock of 51 from 44 balls, striking seven fours and rotating the strike effectively while wickets fell around her. She paced the innings sensibly, ensuring Auckland remained competitive despite limited support from the rest of the batting line-up.
Brooke Halliday provided crucial stability later in the innings, remaining unbeaten on 25 off 28 deliveries. Her partnership with Gaze helped Auckland recover from early pressure, but the inability of other batters to accelerate meant the hosts could only manage 103 for 4 at the end of their 18 overs.
Northern Brave bowlers were disciplined throughout. Kayley Knight was the standout performer, picking up 2 for 21 from her four overs, removing key batters and keeping the scoring rate under control. Marama Downes and Jess Watkin claimed a wicket each, while the rest of the attack bowled tight lines to prevent Auckland from building momentum.
Chasing 104, Northern Brave got off to a shaky start. Auckland’s bowlers struck early and regularly, keeping the Brave under constant pressure. The run chase never settled, as wickets fell at regular intervals and partnerships were hard to sustain. Auckland’s bowling attack led the charge superbly. Molly Penfold delivered an excellent spell, finishing with 3 for 22, consistently hitting good areas and extracting movement.
She was well supported by Bella Armstrong, who produced an equally impressive effort, taking 3 for 19 in four overs. Their combined spells reduced the Brave to nine down with the target still not fully secured. Despite the collapse, the Brave showed resilience. Caitlin Gurrey played a vital counterattacking knock, scoring 19 off 13 balls, briefly swinging momentum in her side’s favour.
Kayley Knight then contributed with the bat as well, scoring 18 from 19 deliveries, while Skye Bowden held her nerve at the end, finishing 17 not out. A calm cameo from Marama Downes, who stayed unbeaten on 5, helped guide the Brave home in a tense finish.
The winning runs came with just one wicket and two balls remaining, bringing an end to a gripping contest that swung back and forth. Auckland came agonisingly close to defending their total, but Northern Brave’s composure under pressure proved decisive. The result earned Northern Brave two crucial points as the Super Smash league phase tightened, while Auckland Hearts were left to reflect on a strong bowling effort that narrowly fell short.
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