Finally on the board! The Central Hinds scored their first win of the season in either format with a successful last-over effort in round three of the national Twenty20 Competition.
In a low-scoring game on Lincoln No.3 at NZC's High Performance Centre, the Hinds were up against the more fancied Wellington Blaze (admittedly without power hitters Rachel Priest and Sophie Devine, on duty in the WBBL) who kept the pressure on to the last as the two sides squabbled over who would take the points.
Suzie McDonald looks for the rope. PHOTOSPORT
The Blaze had been restricted to just 110 for five in their 20 overs, Amelia Kerr moving up to open the batting in Priest's absence and Suzie McDonald’s unbeaten 31 the best of the batting in her first appearance of the season.
Yet despite no batsman getting more than 23 runs on the board in reply, the Hinds were able to fend off an attacking Amelia Kerr (2-19 off her four) and hunt down the total as a pack to complete a thrilling two-wicket win with just three balls to spare and their hearts in their throats for most of it.
Celebration time for the Central Hinds. PHOTOSPORT
Scorecard
The Hinds had needed three off Alex Evans's final over with just two wickets in hand and a new batsman at the crease, having lost a wicket in Michelle McKay as Kerr struck with her last ball. It was a jolt that had ended a determined 18-run stand as they drew ever nearer to the finish line, yet the Hinds then managed singles off the first three balls of the 20th to get home.
After the much needed confidence-booster, the two sides now meet in two rounds of the One-Day competition.
