In a thrilling Hallyburton Johnstone Shield match at the Kennards Hire Community Oval, Wellington Blaze Women showcased a well-rounded performance to outplay Canterbury Magicians Women. After winning the toss, Wellington opted to field first, a choice that quickly proved to be the right one as they restricted Canterbury effectively with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
Canterbury’s innings began with caution, struggling to find momentum. Their captain, Kate Anderson, fell early for just 6 runs, setting the tone for a challenging start. Wicketkeeper Darcy-Rose Prasad quickly followed, dismissed for 2, leaving Canterbury in trouble at two wickets down during the powerplay. Kate Chandler and Izzy Sharp tried to stabilize the innings, putting together a measured partnership. Chandler displayed patience with a solid 29 runs off 51 balls, while Sharp added some urgency with a quickfire 25 off 27, including three boundaries that briefly lifted the scoring rate.
Their partnership helped Canterbury recover somewhat, but Wellington kept up the pressure as bowlers Emma Parker and Jess Kerr made key breakthroughs. Jodie Dean fell for 7, then Kate Irwin managed a hard-fought 23 off 44 before failing to push the scoring. The middle order continued to falter, with Missy Banks dismissed without scoring and Lea Tahuhu contributing a brisk 10 before a sharp piece of fielding sent her back. Abigail Hotton was run out after scoring 4, while Gabby Sullivan managed just 1 run. At the end of the innings, Sarah Asmussen remained unbeaten on 2, but Canterbury was bowled out for 136 in the 37th over, struggling to build partnerships beyond the one between Sharp and Chandler. Extras added up to a costly 27 runs.
Wellington Blaze’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance overall. Jess Kerr starred with the ball, taking three wickets and conceding just 18 runs, while Nicole Baird supported with two wickets. Jess Simmons, Emma Parker, Xara Jetly, and Hannah Francis each chipped in with a wicket, maintaining pressure throughout and preventing Canterbury from finding any late momentum.
In response, Wellington Blaze approached their chase with determination, although they encountered some early resistance from Canterbury’s bowlers. Captain Georgia Plimmer managed to score 11 before falling to Lea Tahuhu, and Hannah Francis was dismissed for a duck, leaving Wellington in a bit of a scramble. Rebecca Burns could only manage 1 run, and at that point, Canterbury sensed an opportunity.
However, the game changed thanks to a crucial partnership between Jess Kerr and Xara Jetly. Kerr played superbly, scoring 57 off 68 balls and striking eight boundaries, effectively controlling the chase. Jetly supported her brilliantly, contributing a thoughtful 39 off 77 balls, helping to rotate the strike and absorb the pressure. Their partnership not only steadied the innings but also shifted the momentum firmly in Wellington’s favor.
Once Kerr was dismissed, Jess McFadyen made sure there were no hiccups along the way, finishing unbeaten on 11, while Jess Simmons remained not out as Wellington crossed the finish line. Despite the result, Canterbury’s bowlers showed resilience. Missy Banks stood out with three wickets, and Lea Tahuhu bowled aggressively to claim two wickets. Kate Chandler also contributed one, while tight spells from Sarah Asmussen, Gabby Sullivan, and Abigail Hotton occasionally slowed Wellington’s scoring.
Wellington Blaze reached their target in the 35th over with four wickets remaining, celebrating a well-deserved victory built on disciplined bowling and a composed chase through the middle order.
Loves all things female cricket