Two big player milestones were the only results from a half-game at Auckland’s Melville Park before rain arrived to scotch proceedings.
The day had started well enough with the Auckland Hearts sent in for the only One-Day fixture of the day — the other teams were all playing T20s, which the Blaze and Hearts will do tomorrow as part of the McDonald’s Super Smash double header at Eden Park.
Congratulations to @sophdevine77 on reaching 100 NZ ONE DAY DOMESTIC APPEARANCES today, having debuted for @Wgtn_Blaze in 2003 pic.twitter.com/Z0VnhARHHt
— Wellington Blaze (@Wgtn_Blaze) January 2, 2017
The milestones belonged to WHITE FERNS teammates Sophie Devine (Wellington Blaze) and Holly Huddleston, who were both joining the not very long list of players to have earned 100 domestic one-day caps in New Zealand women’s cricket.
A special congratulations to Sophie Devine and Holly Huddleston on a top achievement in New Zealand women's domestic cricket today! pic.twitter.com/ltw3HNrmGe
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) January 1, 2017
Devine was in the action early, running out opener Lauren Down, then later claimed the catch that stopped top scorer Maddy Green on 58. She wasn’t done, going on to bowl both Regina Lili’i and fellow match centurion Huddleston, the latter on the penultimate ball of the innings, as the Hearts scrabbled to a middling 217 all out, with just the one delivery unused.
Katie Perkins (37 off 42) and Huddleston at the death (34 off 49) had made key contributions but the Blaze’s spin attack was particularly demanding amid a consistent and economical attack. No one came in for any sustained tap, and the Blaze will have been disappointed not to get back on the park to have a crack at the chase — the shared points leaving them in third spot on the table and still one point behind the Hearts.
