The Auckland Hearts swept aside the disappointment of their loss in the One Day final to the Otago Sparks yesterday, winning the Twenty20 final against the Canterbury Magicians by seven wicket this afternoon.
Hosting their second final in two days, the Hearts were clinical against the Magicians at Melville Park, chasing down their target of 130 after just 16.1 overs.
Paula Gruber led the home side’s bowling attack with figures of three for 24 from her four overs to help limit the Magicians to 129 for seven in the first innings. While respectable, it would not be enough to fend off the Hearts, with Sara McGlashan (62*) and Katie Perkins (48*) putting on an unbeaten 115 for the fourth wicket to guide their side to victory.
McGlashan continued her devastating form with the bat, racing to 50 off just 33 balls. Her power was on full display, slamming six fours and two sixes and cementing her position as the leading run-scorer in the competition with 243.
Perkins knock came from just 39 balls and was just reward for the 26-year-old, who made 93 not out in her side’s losing effort the day prior.
Few would argue that the Hearts deserved the trophy, having gone through the competition unbeaten. It’s their first piece of silverware since their success in the One Day competition in 2011-12.
