ROUND 8 of 10
NORTHERN SPIRIT defeated WELLINGTON BLAZE BY 4 wickets
Cobham Oval | Whangarei
2 February 2020
It was a perfect weekend for Northern Spirit who remain on course for a home Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Grand Final, after back-to-back wins against the fresh-look Blaze.
It's not only the first time Northern Spirit has qualified for a national one-day Final - in their 20th anniversary summer, but they are well placed to control their own destiny to lock down top spot and hosting rights.
Leydon-Davis goes BANG BANG and the Spirit win by four wickets💥💥and qualify for a FIRST domestic one-day GRAND FINAL 👏🙌
— Northern Districts (@ndcricket) February 2, 2020
Special mention for Topp, guiding the team home with 29* in her first innings 👊
Scorecard | https://t.co/VGBLCqUjzW#ndtogether #HBJShield #cricketnation
Big congratulations to Jamie Mason-Jones who makes her full Blaze debate today! 🤝👏
— Wellington Blaze (@Wgtn_Blaze) February 1, 2020
LIVE SCORING | https://t.co/3XE3xi8tIe#WEAREWELLINGTON⚪ï¸🔶âš«ï¸#HBJShield pic.twitter.com/A6CDJhiKnV
Northern Spirit now hosts the Auckland Hearts at Hamilton's Seddon Park in three weeks' time (the weekend of February 22 and 23) in a top of the table clash, with those hosting rights at stake for the big one.
Spirit's Grand Final opponent is yet to be determined, with the Hearts in the prime position and able to join them if they win at Seddon Park. The Magicians and Hinds also remain in contention, but will be hoping for a Spirit double on the final weekend of the regular season.
ROUND EIGHT SUMMARY
Looking to bounce back from a tough loss on the previous day at Cobham, Wellington Blaze batted after winning the toss, and made the better start of the two sides with Jess McFadyen (43) and Caitlin King putting on 61 inside the first 15 overs, before King was run out.
It triggered a Blaze mid-order mini-collapse as Anderson - who had been in the thick of the runout action - struck twice in the 24th over to have Blaze 83 for four.
Prijanaz Chatterji ensured her side recovered with a run-a-ball 42, but Blaze’s tail suffered four ducks in a row to leave her with little to no support.
Chatterji was the final wicket to fall, Blaze all out for 146 after 41 overs whilst Anderson finished with a superb 3-16 off her six, and Eimear Richardson 4-28 off 10 in the warm conditions.
Caroline Esterhuizen had also snared her 100th Women’s List A wicket when she came back and removed Maneka Singh.
It wasn’t enough to unsettle one of the form teams of the women’s summer, and even when they found themselves six down for just 79 in the 28th, they found a solution.
After a Thamsyn Newton throw helped run out dangerwoman Katie Gurrey for just 11, Xara Jetly struck twice in the 13th over while Blaze captain Deanna Doughty had taken her own hundredth Women’s List A wicket when she removed first drop Eimear Richardson, caught for just two runs.
Holly Topp stopped the game going south with a gritty unbeaten 29* in a match-winning partnership with captain Felicity Leydon-Davis (an unbeaten 30*) to book the Spirit a place in the Final, getting home with just over two overs to spare.
