Blaze scorches Spirit at Cobham

Wellington Blaze bounced back from a shock Twenty20 loss on Friday to help themselves to a comfortable five-wicket win over Northern Spirit at Whangarei’s Cobham Oval.

The round three One-Day encounter would prove just the tonic for the capital reps after a shaky start ot their season (which has also featured two One-Day losses against the Magicians), dominating their northernmost away clash at Cobham Oval in all departments.

Scorecard

Stand-in captain Natalie Dodd had opted to bat first in the warm conditions, but at 64 for two at drinks, it was a mixed start for the hosts.

They’d lost Katie Gurrey lbw on 24 and then their influential skipper Dodd on 21, caught behind off Alex Evans.

That brought Sam Curtis and Bernadine Bezuidenhout together both new at the crease, but Curtis would fall immediately after the break, caught behind off Jess Kerr to make it 64 for three.

The workload fell to former South Africa international Bezuidenhout who ploughed on to top-score for the hosts with 40 before she was run out in the 33rd over. The Spirit’s lower order able to find only a further 37 runs, however, before they were dismissed for 167 in 46.2 overs, Deanna Doughty picking up 3-25.

Blaze opener Eimear Richardson (56) then shared stands of 40 for the first wicket with Rachel Priest and then 61 with Sophie Devine (35) for the second to ensure firm control of the chase, the visitors ultimately reaching their target five down with a handsome 16.2 overs to spare for a valuable bonus point victory.