Magicians qualify for BK Super Smash after day of drama
The Canterbury Magicians have qualified for the BK Super Smash final on a dramatic last day of regular season play.
Among swirling rain clouds in Dunedin and Christchurch, the Auckland Hearts need to win against the Otago Sparks at University Oval to qualify, but went down by nine wickets in a rain affected six-over-a-side match.
That opened the door for the Magicians, who comfortably beat the Central Hinds by 64 runs at Hagley Oval to finish second on the table and progress to the final.
"We're just thrilled, really thrilled," said Magicians skipper Frankie Mackay.
"We had to win our own game, it really nice to come out and put a good performance on, the girls have honestly worked so hard this week and had their plans, and they just got it done. Awesome to see, and I'm thrilled with a complete team performance at this stage of the season."
Mackay lead from the front, scoring 97 runs in the Magicians' 168-5, before her team's dominating performance in the field restricted the Hinds to 104-9 in their twenty overs.
They will face the Wellington Blaze, who finished top on the table and qualified for the final first earlier in the week.
"We've got a week to make sure our plans are spot on. We had a really good game with Wellington, and we're really looking forward to having another crack at it. We had a good game at Eden Park Outer Oval last time, so hopefully plenty of people come down to watch," said Mackay.
BK Super Smash final
- Wellington Blaze v Canterbury Magicians
- 4pm 20 January 2019
- Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
