After a long period in the shadows, Northern Brave have finally found their light. Their 2025/26 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS) campaign has been nothing short of a masterclass in consistency, as they stormed to the top of the table to secure a spot in the final on February 21. With eight wins from ten matches and a staggering five bonus points, this hasn’t just been a good run; it’s been a statement of intent from a side that had previously struggled at the bottom of the ladder for the better part of three years.
The journey began with a wake-up call in mid-November against Wellington Blaze. On a tricky Whangārei deck, the Brave were rolled for 133, losing by eight wickets in a rain-affected opener. However, rather than letting that set the tone, Jess Watkin’s side flipped the script less than 24 hours later. They dismantled the same Wellington lineup, bowling them out for just 78 thanks to a four-wicket haul from Lucy Boucher and a gritty 62 from Tash Wakelin, registering a 136-run win. That victory sparked a fire that hasn’t been extinguished since, as they embarked on an unbeaten streak that lasted the rest of the regular season.
By the time the competition reached the midway point in late November and December, Northern Brave found their rhythm. Caitlin Gurrey became the heartbeat of the batting order, anchoring the side with a series of vital knocks, including a near-perfect 99 against Auckland Hearts. This period saw the team’s seamers, led by Kayley Knight and the tireless Marama Downes, consistently dismantle opposition top orders. Whether they were defending modest totals or chasing down targets with clinical ease, the Brave showed a tactical maturity that had been missing in previous summers.
The definitive moment of their campaign came during the double-header against the Canterbury Magicians at Hagley Oval in early February. Coming off a successful Super Smash run, the Brave showed no signs of fatigue. In a high-stakes weekend, they brushed aside the Magicians twice, with Nensi Patel finding a rich vein of form with the bat, striking three consecutive half-centuries to guide the chase. These wins officially punched their ticket to the Cello Basin Reserve with two rounds to spare, making them the first team in the country to qualify for the big dance.
As they head into the final, the numbers tell a story of a truly balanced squad. Caitlin Gurrey leads the charge with 479 runs, supported by the all-round brilliance of Nensi Patel (283 runs and 13 wickets) and captain Jess Watkin, who recently blasted the fastest fifty in the competition’s history off just 26 balls. With the ball, Kayley Knight has been a revelation, taking 15 wickets at an average of 14.2, while Watkin’s off spin has netted her 16 scalps. It’s a team where everyone knows their role, from Holly Topp’s reliable glovework to the emerging talent of youngsters like Eve Wolland.
For Northern Brave, this isn’t just another game of cricket; it’s a chance to rewrite their history. They’ve only ever made one previous one-day final back in 2020, where they fell short in a high-scoring thriller. Now, standing on the grass of the Basin Reserve, they face their old rivals, Wellington Blaze, once again. It’s the ultimate full-circle moment—starting the season with a loss to the Blaze and potentially ending it by lifting their first-ever Hallyburton Johnstone Shield over them.
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