2021/22
Northern Districts beat Auckland Hearts by 8 wickets
Seddon Park, Hamilton
9 January 2022
The summer of runs has continued this afternoon with WHITE FERN Brooke Halliday producing a captain's knock to lead Northern Districts to a one-day victory at sweltering Seddon Park - completing the job with a career-best, unbeaten century against the Auckland Hearts in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield national championship.
Halliday's 106 not out was the definitive statement in an eight-wicket win between the neighbouring teams and was the 20-match WHITE FERN's first one-day hundred against the strong Hearts, after her maiden 101 not out against Wellington Blaze last season.
Halliday had earlier sent in the visitors, Hearts captain and fellow WHITE FERN Lauren Down continuing her strong form in both formats this season with 55 at the top.
Holly Huddleston, batting at five, also produced a quick half ton for Auckland to further enhance her all-round credentials, but the loss of regular wickets cost the Hearts momentum.
Young ND spinner Nensi Patel picked up 3-46 while Lauren Heaps got the big wicket of Down at 104/4 at a crucial time in the match, just before the 30-over mark.
Arlene Kelly picked up an early wicket in reply as the Hearts attempted to defend 239, but Halliday combined with former international Sam Barriball (65) in a 160-run second-wicket stand that saw ND wrest control of the match.
Their partnership was a new ND second-wicket record in women's one-day Domestic cricket, breaking the mark of 154 that had been set by Natalie Dodd (now Central Hinds) and Emma Parker in Whangarei against the same opponent in 2016/17.
Regular Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champions in recent years, the winless Auckland Hearts find themselves in unfamiliar territory, mired at the bottom of the table after four consecutive losses, today's result their second one-day loss to ND in Hamilton this season.
Meanwhile Northern Districts move up in fourth spot, their second win pushing them four points ahead of defending champions the Canterbury Magicians.
Wellington Blaze and the Otago Sparks occupy the top two slots on the table, as they do in the concurrent Dream11 Super Smash T20s.
