South Island Women produced a commanding all-round display to clinch a 31-run victory (DLS method) over North Island Women in the 3rd Match of the North vs South Women’s T20 Series at Nelson on December 20, 2025, in a contest that ebbed and flowed before rain played its decisive part.
Batting first, South Island Women adopted an attacking approach from the outset. Kate Anderson and Bella James opened the innings with positive intent, putting early pressure on the North Island attack. While James struggled to find momentum and was dismissed for 5 off 12 balls, caught behind off Jess Watkin, Anderson counter-punched with crisp timing, striking 14 off 11 deliveries before edging Nensi Patel to Kayley Knight at cover, leaving South Island at 29/2 in 4.5 overs.
The innings gathered real momentum through a vital middle-order phase led by Jodie Dean and Izzy Sharp. Dean played fluently, mixing power with placement in her 24 off 16 balls, while Sharp took on the bowling aggressively, hammering 33 off 22 balls, including five boundaries and a six. Their partnership lifted the tempo and pushed South Island beyond the halfway mark before Dean fell at 46/3 and Sharp at 115/4, both victims of Nensi Patel, who was North Island’s standout bowler with an impressive 4 wickets for 30 runs.
Captain Polly Inglis then seized control of the innings, delivering a blistering knock of 38 off just 19 balls, peppering the boundary rope with seven fours. She found support from Poppy Jay Watkins, who contributed a crucial 26 off 21 balls, the pair accelerating sharply during the death overs. Though Inglis fell at 120/6, South Island continued to score briskly through Lea Tahuhu (13 off 7) and Melissa Banks (12* off 9), pushing the run rate above eight an over.
North Island’s bowlers toiled hard, with Jess Watkin (2/30) and Molly Penfold (1/29) providing breakthroughs, while Jess Kerr and Kayley Knight were expensive despite their experience. Nensi Patel shone with 4 wickets and conceded 30 runs.
Rain shortened the chase, setting North Island Women a revised target of 142 runs from 16 overs. The response began shakily as Georgia Plimmer departed early for 5, edging Melissa Banks behind, followed soon after by skipper Jess Watkin, dismissed for 8, leaving North Island reeling at 38/2.
The backbone of the chase came through a resilient stand between Prue Catton and Flora Devonshire, who steadied proceedings with a measured partnership.
Catton anchored the innings with 39 off 39 balls, while Devonshire injected urgency with 19 off 18, briefly keeping North Island in contention. However, South Island’s bowlers struck in quick succession, Lea Tahuhu removed Devonshire, and Abigail Hotton turned the game decisively with figures of 2/14, including the key wickets of Catton and Emma McLeod (2).
Late fireworks from Bella Armstrong (17 off 8) and Jess Kerr (12* off 9) threatened a twist, but the required rate climbed steeply. Louisa Kotkamp sealed the contest with a superb spell of 3/17 (4), supported well by Poppy Jay Watkins (1/15), as North Island lost wickets in clusters and finished on 110/9 after 16 overs.
South Island Women showcased greater depth, adaptability, and composure under pressure, particularly with their middle-order batting and disciplined bowling, to secure a deserved win and cap off a compelling contest in the North vs South Women’s T20 Series.
Loves all things female cricket