A great performance and a little bit of
luck has seen the Canterbury Magicians edge closer to advancing through to the One Day Final
next week against the Auckland Hearts.
The Magicians bet the Central Hinds by 50 runs via the
Duckworth-Lewis method at MainPower Oval Rangiora this afternoon to leap-frog
into second spot. They were helped by the fact that the Otago Sparks game
against the Northern Spirit was abandoned, allowing the southerners a maximum
of just two points.
If the Magicians win tomorrow, they will set up a rematch of last year's final.
The Magicians claimed the crucial victory having posted 259
for seven in their 50 overs, behind a magnificent 122 from Janet Brehaut. In
reply the Hinds dug deep and were 151 for six after 40.4 overs before rain
stopped play.
Kate Broadmore, who was recently named in the White Ferns
ICC World Cup squad, fought hard to make 52 from 87.
She found help from Sara McGlashan (29) and Sandee Hui (23*),
but victory always looked unlikely for the visitors.
Lea Tahuhu and Hayley Jensen picked up two wickets each,
while two run-outs also helped the Magicians cause.
Earlier, Brehaut had been an absolute star with the bat and
found a pretty handy partner in Amy Satterthwaite (87) as well.
Satterthwaite went at a run a ball during her innings and
took her side through to 164 for four, before being bowled in the 39th
over.
Brehaut though continued to plunder away and brought up a
wonderful century off 110 balls. She then let loose at the end of the innings
with a flurry of boundaries to take Canterbury past 250.
It was a spectacular and quite possibly season defining performance.
Kate Broadmore showed just how good her form is at the
moment in all areas of the game with figures of three for 38 from ten overs.
