The 25th Match of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS) 2025-26 at Mount Maunganui on February 14, 2026, delivered an action-packed contest between Northern Brave Women and Central Hinds Women, with momentum swinging sharply across both innings before Northern Brave sealed a commanding 127-run victory via the DLS method. In a rain-curtailed 28-overs-a-side encounter, the game unfolded in gripping phases, highlighted by fluent half-centuries, impactful bowling spells, and crucial partnerships that shaped the final outcome.
Northern Brave Women began with intent after being put into bat, as skipper Jess Watkin set the tone early. Watkin struck a brisk 50 off 27 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and three sixes at a striking rate of 185.18. She added 60 runs for the opening wicket with Yasmeen Kareem before falling at 60 in 5.6 overs, caught by Georgia Atkinson off Hannah Rowe. Kareem contributed 6 off 16, and when she departed at 79 in 9.1 overs, Central Hinds sensed an opening. However, Tash Wakelin steadied the innings with a composed yet assertive 56 off 47 balls, stitching together a defining 90-run third-wicket partnership with Caitlin Gurrey. Gurrey’s 35 from 34 deliveries ensured the run rate never dipped below par. At 169 for 3 in 20.1 overs, Northern Brave were firmly in control.
The acceleration continued as Nensi Patel hammered 50 off just 28 balls, forming a vital 44-run stand with Wakelin before the latter fell at 176 in 20.6 overs. Eve Wolland chipped in with 16, and despite a few late wickets, including Patel’s dismissal at 240 in 27.4 overs, Northern Brave closed strongly at 242 for 6 in their allotted 28 overs, scoring at an impressive run rate of 8.64. Among the Central Hinds bowlers, Hannah Rowe stood out with 3 for 53 in 6 overs, while Rosemary Mair (1/43), Flora Devonshire (1/40), and Ashtuti Kumar (1/41) each claimed a wicket. Jessica Ogden and Elizabeth Cohr were economical in patches but unable to stem the late surge.
Chasing a revised DLS target of 244 in 28 overs, Central Hinds Women stumbled early. Emma McLeod managed 9 before becoming the first of Jess Watkin’s three victims, leaving the score at 9 for 1 in 1.5 overs. Georgia Atkinson fell lbw to Marama Downes soon after, and at 27 for 3 in 4.5 overs following Flora Devonshire’s dismissal, the chase was already under strain. Cate Pedersen provided resistance with a determined 40 off 39 balls, adding 19 runs with Hannah Rowe for the fourth wicket. Yet, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, Rowe (6), Kerry-Anne Tomlinson (0), and Mair (26) all fell attempting to rebuild.
Rosemary Mair’s 26 off 21 balls briefly lifted hopes during a 39-run sixth-wicket stand, but disciplined bowling from Northern Brave sealed the contest. Watkin returned figures of 3 for 25 in 6 overs, leading from the front, while Downes (2/20) and Tash Wakelin (2/7 in 3.3 overs) delivered decisive spells. Lucy Boucher (1/13) and Nensi Patel (1/37) supported effectively as Central Districts were bowled out for 116 in 23.3 overs at a run rate of 4.93.
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