Looking good for Wellington Blaze captain Liz Perry. PHOTOSPORT

D-Day dawns in women's domestic season

Posted Sunday, 11 February, 2018 in Domestic News

Rain or shine, the 2018 national Twenty20 champion will be crowned today as the last day of the 2017/18 women's domestic season dawns in Lincoln.

Unfortunately for all but leaders Wellington Blaze, that day has dawned with wet weather likely to have the final say.

Captain Maddy Green may have to settle for one trophy in her rookie season as Hearts skipper. PHOTOSPORT

Leaders Wellington Blaze hold a four-point advantage over the Auckland Hearts heading into round 10, the Hearts' dream of doing the one-day/Twenty20 double looking in danger of being washed away.

Both teams won their penultimate matches yesterday to remain alive. Wellington Blaze's six-wicket win against Northern Spirit simultaneously eliminated the Canterbury Magicians who can no longer reach the top of the points table despite the Magicians having executed their fourth consecutive win yesterday with a thriller against Suzie Bates's Otago Sparks.

The Magicians are Blaze's scheduled opponents today while the Auckland Hearts are set to meet fifth-placed Northern Spirit. In order to claim the title, the Hearts not only need the currently inclement weather to play ball, but also need Blaze to lose, and for themselves to win by a margin that will sufficiently elevate their net run rate above that of Blaze.

Hearts off-spinning allrounder Anna Peterson heads into the final day as the competition's top wicket-taker alongside Blaze's Lucy Doolan (above), both with 16 wickets. Northern Spirit's pair of opening batsmen Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Natalie Dodd are the top run-makers despite Spirit already being out of contention.

All matches will be live-scored / updated from 10am at https://www.nzc.nz/

ROUND TEN

• Wellington Blaze v Canterbury Magicians
Lincoln Green
10am