The 2025 North vs South Women’s T20 Series has delivered plenty of drama at the Saxton Oval, setting the stage for a massive final clash. The South Island kicked things off with a clinical five-wicket victory in the opener, chasing down 142 thanks to a sparkling half-century from Izzy Sharp. North Island struggled early at 16/3 but managed a fighting total behind the grit of Prue Catton and Bella Armstrong. However, the North hit back hard in the second game to level the series, turning this fixture into a winner-takes-all showdown for the trophy.
Squads:
North Island Women’s Cricket Team
Jess Watkin (C), Bella Armstrong, Prue Catton, Flora Devonshire, Kate Gaging, Bree Illing, Xara Jetly, Jess Kerr, Kayley Knight, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer
South Island Women’s Cricket Team
Polly Inglis (C), Kate Anderson, Missy Banks, Emma Black, Anna Browning, Jodie Dean, Olivia Gain, Abigail Hotton, Bella James, Louisa Kotkamp, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu, PJ Watkins
Players to watch out:
Jess Watkin
Jess has been the standout performer of the series so far, truly leading from the front. In the second T20, she turned the game on its head with a sensational 5/34, single-handedly dismantling the South’s middle and lower order. Combine that with her handy 25 (13) and 31 (29) in recent domestic outings, and it’s clear she’s in the form of her life.
Emma Black
Emma is quickly proving why she’s one of the most reliable opening bowlers in the New Zealand circuit. She set the tone for the series in the first T20, finishing with clinical figures of 2/17 from 4 overs to help secure a 5-wicket win for the South. Her ability to extract movement early on was also on display in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield recently, where she picked up 2/23 against the Hinds.
Polly Inglis
As the captain and wicketkeeper, Polly has been the tactical heartbeat of the South Island side. She showed incredible composure in the second T20, anchoring the innings with a vital 50 that propelled her team toward a competitive 169. This follows a strong domestic season where she’s been a mainstay for the Otago Sparks and has a real knack for reading the game.
Prue Catton
Prue has emerged as a vital middle-order stabilizer for the North Island when things get shaky. In the series opener, she played a gritty 32 off 27 balls, stitching together a 54-run partnership to rescue her side from an early collapse. She followed that up with an unbeaten 32* in the second match, proving she can handle the pressure of a chase.
Pitch:
Saxton Oval in Nelson features a pitch that generally favors batters with good bounce and carry, supporting high-scoring games, though pacers get early swing and seam due to its coastal location.
Weather:
Expect mild summer conditions in Nelson on December 20, 2025, with daytime highs around 20°C, about 8 hours of sunshine, and a chance of scattered showers. Winds may gust lightly, but no major disruptions anticipated.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Jess Watkin, Prue Catton, Flora Devonshire, Xara Jetly, Jess Kerr, Georgia Plimmer, Polly Inglis, Kate Anderson, Emma Black, Louisa Kotkamp, Lea Tahuhu
Match Details:
Date – December 20, 2025
Time – 3:30 AM IST
Venue – Saxton Oval, Nelson
Broadcast – Live and free on www.cdcricket.co.nz, and for the fans around the world, they can follow the live action on New Zealand Cricket’s Official YouTube channel.
Loves all things female cricket