The most successful team of New Zealand Cricket’s Women’s Super Smash, Wellington Blaze on Saturday clinched their 7th title of the T20I competition. Maddy Green led team had a perfect super smash season as they remained unbeaten throughout the 2021-22 edition.
The White Ferns captain Sophie Devine who guided WBBL team Perth Scorchers to their first title last year was the star of the Finals contributing with both the bat and the ball as the Blaze restricted Otago Sparks 76 runs short of the target. Opening the batting for Blaze, Devine smashed 92 off just 62 balls with the strike rate of 148.38 hitting 10 4s and 5 6s as the team finished at 175/4 in their 20 overs with Green also contributing a crucial 55 off just 35 balls.
The experienced all-rounder further went on to take 2 wickets with the ball in her 3.3 overs spell giving 14 runs. Joining Devine with the ball was off-spinner Leigh Kasperek who took a 3 wicket haul while it was one each for the Kerr sisters and Maneka Singh as the Sparks tumbled down with just 100 on board, the knock of 16 runs by Katey Martin as well as Emma Black being the highest for the team.
Interacting with Spark Sport after the win, Devine appreciated her captain saying,
“Maddy’s got a good head on her shoulders – sometimes she reins me in, and sometimes I rein her in,”
“I think it’s all about partnerships, it doesn’t matter if it’s with the bat or the ball.
“The way that she scored sort of took the pressure off me, because I couldn’t find the middle of the bat today, which is a bit frustrating.
“We know that they’ve got threats with the ball all the way through, the Sparks, so we knew we had to get a good total on the board and we were able to do so.” She added
Match Summary:
Toss: Wellington Blaze- elected to bat
Wellington Blaze: 175-4
Otago Sparks: 100 (all out)
Wellington Blaze won 2021-22 Women’s Super Smash by 75 runs
Top Performers-:
Wellington Blaze:
Sophie Devine- 92 (62) & 2/14
Maddy Green- 55 (35)
Leigh Kasperek- 3/23
Otago Sparks:
Emma Black- 2/36 & 16 (9)
Katey Martin- 16 (14)
Source: newstalk ZB
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.