Otago won the toss and decided to bowl, but failed to make an early break though with Auckland putting on 69 for the first wicket.
The runs didn’t stop there though with six of the top seven batters making valuable contributions. Sarah Carnachan top scored for Auckland with 41, closely followed by captain Maddie Green with 38. At the end of 46 overs the Northerners had posted Otago a target of 235 to win.
In reply Otago got off to just the start they needed as Megan Mason and Caitlin Blakely put on 28 together before Mason was dismissed for seven. Blakely went on to make 26 and found help from Sarah Osborne (20) and Kylie Crowley (23).
Auckland though were too good and Arlene Kelly stole the show. In the 32nd over Kelly picked up the tournament’s first hatrick, including the crucial wicket of Crowley. This amazing passage of play made it near impossible for Otago to reach their target and they were eventually dismissed in the 38th over for 121.
It was a great fielding display by the defending champions with three run outs. Unsurprisingly Kelly had the best of the bowlers figures with three for 31 from seven overs.
