One-Day Competition
Round one
Wellington Blaze 283/2 in 50 overs (Rachel Priest 136 not out, Sophie Devine 53 not out, Eimear Richardson 52; Alisha Rout 2-32) beat Northern Spirit 155 in 41.3 overs (Natalie Dodd 61, Katie Gurrey 33; Wheturangi Charteris 3-20, Devine 2-22, Emma Fulbrook 2-31) by 128 runs
The rainclouds of the previous day gone, Wellington Blaze made a scorching start to their 2015/16 One-Dayers in the first part of a doubleheader against Northern Spirit.
Coming off an outstanding series against Sri Lanka for the WHITE FERNS, Rachel Priest at first drop was too hot to handle for the Spirit as she punched up her unbeaten 136 off 128 balls at Karori Park.
Priest's matchwinning knock was her third domestic one-day ton and a career best, exceeding her previous 105. It included 14 fours and two sixes, and was supplemented by Sophie Devine's run-a-ball 53, and earlier an 83-ball half century from opener Eimear Richardson as the Blaze racked up an imposing 283/2, batting first.
Natalie Dodd opened the reply for Northern Spirit, but after the opening stand of 67 was broken, her 62 proved a lone hand. Dodd was the fourth wicket to fall at 131/4, and from there the Spirit collapsed to be all out for 155 in the 42nd over.
Wheturangi Charteris profited at their expense with a career best 3-20, while Devine and Emma Fulbrook also picked up two wickets each.
