Match 2 of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS) 2025-26, New Zealand Cricket Women’s One Day Competition, gave us a real thriller at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, where Canterbury Magicians edged past Central Hinds by just one wicket with two balls to spare. It was a match that swung from one side to the other, keeping everyone guessing till the very end.
Canterbury batted first after Central Hinds chose to field, and it quickly became the Kate Anderson show. The captain, opening the batting, played the innings of her life, smashing an unbeaten 171 off 153 balls, laced with 24 fours. She carried the entire innings on her shoulders, as no other Canterbury batter crossed 30.
Wicketkeeper Abigale Gerken chipped in with 23, while Jodie Dean added 26, but it was Anderson’s brilliance that powered Canterbury to a fighting total. Central Hinds bowlers tried their best, Rosemary Mair, Claudia Green, and Ashtuti Kumar all picked up two wickets each, but they simply had no answers to Anderson’s domination. Extras also hurt them, giving away 28 runs.
The chase from Central Hinds began on the wrong note with Emma McLeod dismissed for a 12-ball duck. But they did not let the pressure take over. Georgia Atkinson’s 31 and Cate Pedersen’s run-a-ball 42 kept things moving, showing clear intent to stay on top of the chase.
Skipper Hannah Rowe then added an important 40 off 45 balls, but the innings truly came alive with Kerry-Anne Tomlinson’s superb 70 off 82 balls, featuring 8 fours. She anchored the chase beautifully. Keeper Kate Gaging also contributed 30 valuable runs as Central Hinds inched closer to the target.
Just when it looked like they would get home easily, Canterbury bowlers fought back. Fittingly, it was Kate Anderson, this time with the ball, who turned up again, she bowled a sharp 3.4 overs and picked three wickets, almost pulling the game back for her team. But the Hinds held their nerve and finally crossed the line with one wicket in hand in a nail-biting finish.
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