There was no stopping Canterbury Magicians skipper Amy Satterthwaite as she glided to an unbeaten 83 against Wellington Blaze in the first of back-to-back one-dayers at Lincoln on Monday.
The long-limbed classicist produced a composed captain's knock to ensure the Blaze suffered their first loss in round three of the 2015/16 competition.
Batting at first drop with good support, her innings went a long way to ensuring the Magicians had a defendable 237/4 from their 50 overs, and it proved more than enough to thwart the dangerous Blaze line-up. They surprisingly fell short by some 56 runs, after being bundled out for 181.
They had lost their Australian import Erin Burns for a duck on the third ball of the chase, and slumped to 4/2 when Eimear Richardson was trapped in front by WHITE FERNS pace ace Lea Tahuhu.
The stellar, run-punching machine that is Rachel Priest was always going to be the big wicket, however, and Satterthwaite was ecstatic when she had her caught for 37.
Suzie McDonald (48) and Gemma Krebs (32) provided some middle order resistance for the Blaze, but the damage was done and they were unable to keep up with the required run rate.
It had been a disciplined bowling effort from the Magicians, WHITE FERNS teammates Satterthwaite and legspinner Erin Bermingham both claiming two wickets, while right-armer Rachel Candy picked up a useful 3-34.
Frances Mackay, Bermingham (43) and Thamsyn Newton had earlier all shared in partnerships of 50 runs or more with Satterthwaite, with Mackay having thumped 61 at the top of the order. Newton and Satterthwaite had added 56 for the fourth wicket.
