As top qualifiers the State Wellington Blaze will host the State League women’s cricket final against the defending champions the State Canterbury Magicians at the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve in Wellington this Saturday.
Wellington set the pace
Wellington were run away top qualifiers, winning eight of their ten games and collecting four bonus points to lead the competition all year.
They have a solid batting line up that can produce big scores but an equally deadly bowling attack that has defended some modest totals this season.
The competition leaders will be looking for more of the same from their three in form all-rounder’s Sophie Devine, Amanda Cooper and Lucy Doolan.
Megan Wakefield will be hoping to recapture some of her early season form that helped give Wellington such a strong start to the competition.
State Wellington Blaze leading performers:
| Batting | Innings | Runs | HS | Ave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Wakefield | 10 | 362 | 120 | 36.20 |
| Sophie Devine | 10 | 252 | 83* | 28.00 |
| Amanda Cooper | 10 | 193 | 85* | 21.44 |
| Lucy Doolan | 10 | 192 | 42 | 19.20 |
| Bowling | Balls | Runs | Wickets | BB | Ave | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Doolan | 500 | 256 | 20 | 3-20 | 12.80 | 3.07 |
| Anna Dodd | 472 | 282 | 17 | 3-12 | 16.58 | 3.58 |
| Sophie Devine | 516 | 296 | 13 | 3-25 | 22.76 | 3.44 |
| Amanda Cooper | 391 | 198 | 12 | 6-9 | 16.50 | 3.03 |
Canterbury pull through when it counts
Canterbury snuck into second place on the back of their 49 run victory over the Blaze last Sunday – a result that will give them confidence heading into the final.
The Magicians have only won five of their ten games this year but managed to collect three bonus points, two more that last years finalist, the State Central Hinds who also recorded five wins.
Canterbury welcomes back their experienced captain Haidee Tiffen who was unavailable for their two matches. Tiffen will provide a cool head and stability to the Magicians middle order.
Amy Satterthwaite has been the standout performer for Canterbury this season and will look to back up her match winning performance with bat and ball in the must win victory against the Blaze last Sunday. In that match Satterthwaite scored 61 and took two for 16.
State Canterbury Magicians leading performers:
| Batting | Innings | Runs | HS | Ave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Satterthwaite | 9 | 273 | 76 | 34.12 |
| Haidee Tiffen | 7 | 244 | 69 | 40.66 |
| Frankie Mackay | 9 | 178 | 55 | 22.25 |
| Janet Brehaut | 8 | 175 | 60* | 29.16 |
| Bowling | Balls | Runs | Wickets | BB | Ave | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth McNeill | 416 | 233 | 16 | 4-34 | 14.56 | 3.36 |
| Amy Satterthwaite | 279 | 188 | 10 | 4-31 | 18.80 | 4.04 |
| Frankie Mackay | 468 | 230 | 10 | 3-25 | 23.00 | 2.94 |
| Sarah Burke | 442 | 243 | 10 | 3-25 | 24.30 | 4.27 |
A classic match is in the offing with the red hot Blaze team, stacked with classy all-rounders matching up against the experienced Magicians who have know how to win the big one.
The final also provides one last opportunity for five of the White Ferns to get some match practice before the Rose Bowl against the visiting Australians starting Feburary 1st. Lucy Doolan and Sophie Devine from the State Wellington Blaze and Haidee Tiffen, Amy Satterthwaite and Beth McNeill from the State Canterbury Magicians will be on show.
