The Canterbury Magicians have avenged yesterday’s loss in the 50 over final with a brilliant fight back to be crowned Action Cricket Twenty20 champions.
Facing the Auckland Hearts for the second day in a row, Canterbury looked like they were going to wind up with nothing to show for their unbeaten season, until a fantastic display with the ball gave them a 29 run win.
Like yesterday the Hearts won the toss and decided to bowl first.
They couldn’t have asked for a much better start as they got key batsmen Frances Mackay out for a duck. It was unusual to see a wicket so early for Canterbury and from there on they proved to be vulnerable.
Janet Brehaut top scored for the home side with 32 and found help from Amy Satterthwaite (14) and Mandi Godliman (23), but no one in the top order could really get going.
Wickets started to tumble regularly and the crowd at Hagley Park sensed things were not going the way of their team.
Meg Kendal made an unbeaten 14 at the end of the innings to claw Canterbury to 113 for eight after 20 overs.
It would have been a total that Auckland was confident of chasing down, especially with Stefanie Taylor in the form she’s been in.
However things would not go the way the Hearts had planned and Canterbury picked up the enormously important wicket of Taylor for just seven. The celebrations showed that Canterbury believed they now had a real chance.
Other opener Sam Curtis was playing well though and anchored the majority of the innings for Auckland.
Her partner though was changing far too frequently and couldn’t build a match winning partnership with any of her team mates.
Holly Huddleston made 11, as did Lauren Down, but no one really around for the long haul.
When Curtis was run out on 29 it spelt the end of Auckland’s chase.
The tail couldn’t get on top of the Magician’s bowling attack and were eventually all out in the 18th over for 84.
It gave Canterbury a 29 run win and a deserved trophy for an outstanding season. Yesterday’s final was their only loss.
It was an exciting final on a brilliant day in Hagley Park and the perfect way to finish off the Women’s domestic cricket season.
