2023/24 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 3
Saturday, 25 November 2023
Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland
AUCKLAND HEARTS defeated CENTRAL HINDS by 4 wickets
Auckland Hearts: 4 points
Maddy Green led from the front | MBUTCHER
A brutal triple-wicket over from young left-arm swing bowler Bree Illing (3/44) had the Auckland Hearts in charge early in a top-of-the-table third-round clash against the Central Hinds.
Auckland Hearts captain Maddy Green had sent in on an overcast morning the Hinds as she returned to her old stomping ground in the blue for the first time since returning from the Wellington Blaze.
It paid dividends early thanks to Illing's gamechanger of a fifth over that removed three current or former WHITE FERNS - Dodd, Thamsyn Newton and Hannah Rowe - in the space five deliveries, all trapped on the crease LBW by her inswinging zingers.
Bree Illing | PHOTOSPORT
The only blemish in that Illing over was a wide as the tall 20-year-old sent the latter two veterans packing for no score.
At 20/3, the Hinds already had a recovery job on their hands, but that was a task the rest of the batters were able to manage.
The in-form pair of Georgia Atkinson and leading HBJ runscorer Mikaela Greig - in the form of her life, pulled together some stability with a 56-stand for the fourth wicket.
Josie Penfold | PHOTOSPORT
Josie Penfold (3/40) finally got another breakthrough when Greig was caught on 31, and Penfold (3/40) also had a hand in a calamitous runout when Emma McLeod was caught ball-watching and Atkinson (30) was needlessly run out at 91/5.
McLeod herself departed soon after, but the Hinds didn't panic, and instead responded with an 84-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Flora Devonshire | PHOTOSPORT
Young Flora Devonshire reached a career-best 41 and, after Fran Jonas (the WHITE FERNS tweaker back for her first game this summer) broke through, Rosemary Mair carried on to post her maiden List A half century, off 68 balls.
A maiden half century for WHITE FERN Rosemary Mair | PHOTOSPORT
Mair at seven had been instrumental in hauling her side back into the contest, and would not be sent back until the 48th over when she became the last to fall, having been caught on 72.
The Hinds had set the Hearts a chase of 238. Now it was game on, especially after the Hinds started strong with the ball themselves.
Rowe was in the wickets early | MBUTCHER
Rowe (3/50) and Claudia Green (2/46) had the top three back in the portacoms at 46/3,with Rowe's diving caught and bowled to dismiss Bella Armstrong a key moment.
But Maddy Green was to prove a thorn in their side all weekend.
Maddy Green in charge | MBUTCHER
Surviving an early chance, Green combined with Izzy Gaze (41) for a gutsy fourth-wicket stand on 84, then backed up with a fifth-wicket stand of 66 with another stylish and aggressive accomplice in Prue Catton (34).
Prue Catton | MBUTCHER
A difficult running outfield catch from Ocean Bartlett removed Catton to give Rowe her third wicket, at 196/5.
What a catch from Ocean Bartlett | MBUTCHER
Now the Hinds still had a chance, if they could dislodge Green who was meanwhile grappling away to anchor the chase.
Despite another quick wicket for Claudia Green, the other Green would have it all under control on an enervating afternoon.
The Hearts captain finished unbeaten on 91* as Molly Penfold clipped the winning runs to take the victory in the 48th over, six wickets down.
