English import Sarah Taylor toyed with Central Hinds as her Wellington Blaze women's cricket team stormed to an emphatic 101-run win in the Action Cup.
Taylor was imperious as she stroked a quality 114 off only 117 balls to guide Wellington to their fourth win in five matches after an imposing 288 for nine proved far too much for the home side at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North.
Central never threatened to challenge that total, instead batting out time near the end as they finished on 187 for eight.
Taylor proved the star turn as she struck 12 fours and shared a third wicket partnership worth 116 runs in close to 20 overs with New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine, who contributed a highly polished 56 from 64 deliveries.
Devine was also a thorn in the side of Central Districts with the ball as she took two for 16 off nine tight overs, a more than handy back-up effort to Amanda Cooper, who took three for 31 off her full complement.
The bonus point victory saw Wellington lift their points haul to 19, the same as Canterbury, and ensure their presence in next weekend's final against the southerners in Christchurch.
NZPA
