In a dazzling display of all-round brilliance, 25-year-old White Ferns star Amelia Kerr smashed her maiden T20 century (106* off 61 balls) to propel Wellington Blaze to a commanding 49-run victory over Auckland Hearts in the 4th match of the Women’s Super Smash at Basin Reserve.
Opening alongside Georgia Plimmer, Kerr’s unbeaten knock, featuring 17 boundaries and two maximums, anchored a massive 184/2 in 20 overs, earning her the Player of the Match award and securing the Blaze’s second straight win and a bonus point.
Wellington skipper Amelia Kerr won her second consecutive toss and elected to bat first against Auckland Hearts, led by Maddy Green. Kerr paired explosively with Georgia Plimmer, forging a 155-run opening stand that set the tone.
The duo accelerated seamlessly, blending composure with aggression as the innings built momentum. Kerr, however, carried her bat unbeaten, reaching her landmark ton while the Blaze racked up 184/2, including 12 extras. Amie Hucker (4-0-33-1) joined Illing (4-0-33-1) as Hearts’ lone wicket-takers.
Defending 185, Auckland Hearts crumbled under pressure, folding for 135 with a ball to spare. Their top order flickered but faded: Bella Armstrong (22 off 18), Brooke Halliday (16 off 16), and Prue Catton (13 off 16) offered starts without substance. Skipper Maddy Green fought valiantly for 39 off 26, but only Ayaan Lambat (12 off 16) and Hucker (10 off 10) joined her in double figures.
Wellington’s bowlers struck ruthlessly. Xara Jetly (3.5-0-21-3) tore through the middle order, Nicole Baird (3-0-18-2) tightened the screws, and Jess Kerr (4-0-33-2) added bite. Amelia Kerr capped her all-round masterclass with a tidy 3-0-17-0 spell, restricting Hearts and clinching the bonus point by surpassing 150 runs as a team in the first innings.
With 9 points from two games, the table-topping Blaze look unstoppable under Kerr’s leadership.
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