Defending champions the Auckland Hearts will head into the last round still hoping to book a place in the 2021 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Grand Final after a close defeat to the Canterbury Magicians at Eden Park Outer Oval on Saturday.

The first 35 overs of the day belong to the Magicians,  Frankie Mackay (75) and Natalie Cox (52) setting a platform for the visitors after having decided to bat first.

Young Hearts spinner Fran Jonas impressed on her return from the WHITE FERNS, taking 2-35 from her 10 overs including the prized wickets of Kate Ebrahim and Amy Satterthwaite.

The left-arm spinner’s double strike brought together Mackay and Cox, however, and the pair would put together the defining partnership of the match.

Their 81-run stand came at a good clip. At 173/3, the Magicians were primed to push on towards 250, while Bella Armstrong (2-47) helped the Hearts stay in the contest before the death overs.

Anna Peterson then re-entered the attack - and led a spectacular fightback. The off-spinner took two wickets in the 45th, another two in the 47th, and finished with the final wicket in the 49th over to lead the side from the field with a bag of 5-30 from her 7.1 overs.

Chasing 205, Peterson then gave her side a bright opening with a pair of boundaries from the first over of the inning. The home side's fortunes took a hit, however, losing Lauren Down, Arlene Kelly and Peterson all inside the first seven overs.

When Katie Perkins and Holly Huddleston (24) put together 63 for the fourth wicket, the chase was back on track, positive batting keeping the score moving.

When Huddleston fell at 96/4 and Armstrong at 97/5, the Hearts needed another partnership. Perkins made good headway with Regina Lili'i for a sixth-wicket stand of 54.

Just when the Aucklanders had got themselves back in front, Satterthwaite dismissed Lilii' (23) before Gabby Sullivan (4-51) came back into the attack and turned the game once again, with two wickets.

Having brought up her 21st one-day half-century, Perkins (69) remained at the crease, but she was running out of partners. Eventually Perkins was the last player out, the Hearts all out for 180 in the 46th over.