Auckland Hearts v Canterbury Magicians at Devonport Domain, Auckland, 1 December 2017
The unbeaten Auckland Hearts survived the tightest contest of the round, edging the strong Canterbury Magicians by just 13 runs with an over to spare in sweltering Auckland conditions.
New Hearts captain Maddy Green top-scored with more than half her side's tally of 111 thanks to a 51-ball 53.
Her bowlers then came to the rescue, a searing opening spell from WHITE FERNS seamer Holly Huddleston (including a wicket second ball) backed up by Anna Peterson’s knack for collecting wickets (4-17).
Anna Peterson had another blinder. MButcher/NZC
Peterson put herself on an unconverted hat-trick after she bowled Lea Tahuhu and Laura Hughes with consecutive balls in the penultimate over, one of three wickets to fall from it as she wrested the match back in the Hearts’ favour.
Earlier, the Hearts had won the toss, Lauren Down scoring a fluent 23 to get them off to a good start. However, with five runouts, superb fielding had helped the Magicians temporarily change the course of the match and it had been game on heading into the second innings.
But it was Katie Perkins on the other side who ultimately changed the game with a brilliant runout just when the Mags were looking like building a match-defining partnership.
The weekend's Hallyburton Johnstone Shield contests now move across the bridge to Epsom's Melville Park for the two sides to continue their battle.
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