The 2025–26 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS), New Zealand’s premier domestic one-day competition, got underway on November 15, with Northern Brave facing Wellington Blaze. A rematch-up, round 2 will be played at Cobham Oval in Whangārei and is scheduled to begin at 3:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Last season, Northern Brave finished at the bottom of the table (6th) with only three wins from 10 games. Notably, the ever-conquering Wellington Blaze had a modest season as well, managing just four wins from 10 matches and securing the 4th seed. Both teams will be eager to start strongly and build momentum as they aim for improved finishes this time around.
Squads:
Northern Brave Women’s Cricket Team
Lucy Boucher, Skye Bowden, Sophie Court, Marama Downes, Caitlin Gurrey, Yaz Kareem, Kayley Knight, Nensi Patel, Holly Topp, Tash Wakelin, Jess Watkin, Eve Wolland
Wellington Blaze Women’s Cricket Team
Nicole Baird, Rachel Bryant, Natasha Codyre, Hannah Francis, Antonia Hamilton, Xara Jetly, Jess Kerr, Sam Mackinder, Jess McFadyen, Isla McKenzie, Georgia Plimmer, Jess Simmons, Gemma Simms
Players to watch out:
Caitlin Gurrey
The 30-year-old top-order batter amassed 523 runs from 10 HJS outings last season and notably ended her campaign with back-to-back centuries, including a majestic 152 against Wellington Blaze. Gurrey is an experienced top-order player and will be counted on to lead the scoring once again.
Nensi Patel
The 23-year-old all-rounder scored 245 runs and claimed 9 wickets from 10 HJS outings last season, recording respective bests of 62* with the bat and 2/25 with the ball. Nensi will again be relied upon for handy lower order runs and crucial breakthroughs as she continues to grow in her all-round role.
Hannah Francis
The 19-year-old accumulated 329 runs from 10 HJS outings at an average of 32.90, with the highest score of 115. With the ball, she picked up 12 wickets in just 7 innings at an economy rate of 4.36, including best figures of 4/16. The young all-rounder will be eager to replicate that success this season as well.
Xara Jetly
The 24-year-old off-spinner collected 13 wickets from 6 outings in the 2025–26 HJS at an average of 15.53 and also contributed 98 runs. Xara had an outstanding start to this season, scoring 38* with the bat and taking a wicket with the ball. She can be trusted to deliver more of these all-round performances.
Pitch:
Cobham Oval dishes out a good batting deck with an average score in the 220s. However, the wicket poses a challenge for batters due to its lively nature, particularly early on against pacers, while spinners also remain in the game throughout.
Weather:
The conditions in Whangarei promise action, but a complete game is unlikely with afternoon showers on the radar. The temperature is expected to hover around 20°C with moderate winds and humidity at 73%.
Match details:
Date – November 16, 2025
Time – 3:00 AM IST
Venue – Cobham Oval, Whangarei
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on New Zealand Cricket YouTube channel.
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