NZC National Women’s Under 19 Tournament
T20 FINAL DAY
Monday 23 December 2019
It all came down to the last morning of T20s. Could Central Districts hold onto their slender lead, or would Auckland or Canterbury sneak past?
Canterbury won their last match against Wellington U19, but it was already too late for the hosts with CD smashing their way to a quick win over Auckland, with almost a quarter of their innings to spare, to seal the inaugural 2019/20 title.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS v AUCKLAND
Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Toss: Auckland
Despite winning the toss and batting first, Auckland found themselves on the back foot after having been restricted to 106 for five in their 20 overs.
CD's Ocean Bartlett then came out and smashed a 35-ball fifty, carrying her bat for an unbeaten 54* in a clinical win for Central.
Margot Scoular's run-a-ball 25 and an unbeaten 25* from Saffron Wilson provided Bartlett with the support as CD put the icing on their week and a half's work - in which CD had dropped just one game - with 5.4 overs to spare.
WELLINGTON v CANTERBURY
Lincoln No.3
Toss: Canterbury
Canterbury had not only needed a win, they had needed CD to lose in order to reclaim the lead and win the tournament.
Despite a good 13-run win over Wellington in their final game, it was out of their control across the hedge.
Canterbury won the toss and batted, reaching 98 for five in their 20 overs, helped by Georgia Edge's quick unbeaten 31* at six.
Xara Jetly had picked up 2-19 for Wellington and Rachel Bryant 2-13 off her four, but Canterbury proved able to defend their low total thanks to a fierce team effort with the ball that saw Wellington rolled for 85 with 11 balls to spare.
OTAGO v NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Lincoln Green
Toss: Otago
Otago batted after winning the toss, reaching a score of 120 for five thanks to a top score of 44 from both opener Olivia Gain, off just 40 deliveries, and fellow young Otago Spark Eden Carson at first drop.
Emma Baker and Makayla Templeton each picked up a brace for ND who then overcame the early loss of both Lucy Boucher and Templeton to reach 63 for three, after a 57-run stand for the third wicket between Holly Topp and Georgina Harris.
Annie Ewart's top score of 34 off 29 balls ended when she was run out at the death, but ND was on track and managed to seal a thrilling three-wicket win with a ball to spare to finish the tournament on an exciting note.
