2022/23 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
ROUND ONE
Saturday, 19 November 2022
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
CENTRAL HINDS beat AUCKLAND HEARTS
by 6 wickets
(match reduced to 20 overs per side)
Points this round: Hinds 4, Hearts 0
Selected milestones
Amberly Parr-Thomson: Maiden List A wicket, career best bowling
All images: MBUTCHER
After a lengthy wait to get their season underway, the Central Hinds and Auckland Hearts opened their one-day campaigns with a T20 in a match reduced to 20 overs per side and starting at 3.38pm in rainy New Plymouth.
It was a relief for the Hinds whose back four matches at the end of the last summer were all washed out without a ball bowled, and captain Natalie Dodd sent in the Hearts for what proved to be a wait well worth it for the hosts.
The Hinds were sharp in the field, sticking most of their catches and chasing hard on a slow outfield, with the showstopped a pinpoint throw from WHITE FERN Hannah Rowe from the deep square boundary to run out the dangerous and experienced Katie Perkins.
Rowe's arm rocketed the ball straight and flat to the keeper's gloves as Perkins desperately dove in vain at 60/3 in the 12th over.
After the early loss of Skye Bowden and Hearts captain Lauren Down restricted to just 14 by spinner Jess Watkin (3-13), it was the turning point in the Hearts' innings and they crumbled to 86/9 in their 20 overs.
Saachi Shahri top-scored with 34 but had departed in the following over, the Hinds replying with a careful chase in the slow conditions.
They ticked off their target with three overs to spare, but will have kicked themselves for not getting across the line one ball earlier which would have also netted a bonus point and put them at the top of the table with Northern Districts.
Rowe was also centre stage with the bat, unbeaten after a run-a-ball 30* in a 48*-run fifth wicket stand with captain Dodd (32* off 36).
The experienced pair calmly steadied the chase after Amberly Parr-Thomson (2-17) had taken her first two wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, in just her second appearance.
