A comprehensive 10-wicket victory this afternoon over the SBS Bank Otago Sparks has secured the unbeaten Canterbury Magicians a place in the 2016 Women's Twenty20 Final — with a round to spare.
Young WHITE FERN and Magician Tamsyn Newton made three quick breakthroughs at Hagley Oval to slice the top off the Sparks' order before the rest of the Magicians' attack rallied round to hold their southern rivals to just 85/9. The target was no match for Magicians skipper and WHITE FERN Amy Satterthwaite (an unbeaten 42 off 49), who with Frances Mackay (40 not out off 49) ticked off the target in just 14.4 overs. The Magicians (16 points) now hold a six-point advantage over closest challenger Wellington Blaze (10 points), a win worth four points.
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Meanwhile in Palmerston North, defending champions Wellington Blaze kept their own campaign on track with an eight-wicket win, while the hopes of their hosts, the Central Hinds, took an untimely hit. Batting at three, Eimear Richardson posted an unbeaten half century (54* off 52) for the Blaze as the Wellingtonians hunted down Central's 102/7 with two and a half overs to spare, pushing down the Hinds from second to third spot on the table. A top two finish is needed to make the February 14 Final. Rachel Priest captained the side today after Sophie Devine withdrew with injury.
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The Auckland Hearts consoled themselves by picking up their first win of the competition courtesy of a crushing nine-wicket victory over Northern Spirit at Bruce Pulman Park, in South Auckland. A stunning haul of 4-11 from WHITE FERN Anna Peterson cleaned out the top four batsmen to hobble the Spirit in the 11th over at 38/4, a position from which they never recovered. The Hearts chased down their target of 94 for the loss of just one wicket, Peterson completing a strong allround performance with an unbeaten 42 off 39 balls. Fellow WHITE FERN Sara McGlashan contributed an unbeaten 40 at first drop.
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The final round of the Women’s Twenty20 takes place on 6 February; meanwhile all six teams will be back in action tomorrow and Sunday in the Women's One-Day Competition.
