2024/25 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 5
Saturday 14 December 2024
Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland
AUCKLAND HEARTS lost to WELLINGTON BLAZE by 9 runs
Points in this round:
Otago Sparks 5
Central Hinds 5
Wellington Blaze 4
Auckland Hearts 0
Northern Districts 0
Canterbury Magicians 0
SELECTED MILESTONES
Melie Kerr: sixth List A century, second for Wellington Blaze
Melie Kerr and Nicole Baird: Wellington Blaze 8th wicket partnership record (105, previously 55)
Xara Jetly: 50th List A match
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SNAPSHOT: In a contest that went down to the last over, Wellington Blaze got a much needed victory over the higher ranked Auckland Hearts as the pressure mounted halfway through the regular season.
Straight back in the team and straight into century mode, first drop Melie Kerr was the star as she set up a competitive total against the strong Aucklanders, while Hearts captain Maddy Green continued her consistent form as the competition's top run-scorer this season.
Back from the WBBL for the weekend, alongside fellow WHITE FERNS star Sophie Devine, Kerr added the sparkle to the Blaze innings with her sixth List A century (her second for the Blaze).
She contributed 108, off just 105 balls, to Blaze's total of 232/8, before being caught from the last ball of the Wellington innings as she did the requisite thing and threw bat at ball.
The Blaze had been sent in by the Hearts, but even some brilliant return fielding off her own bowling - with two diving caught and bowleds - couldn't help Josie Penfold and her teammates stem the steady flow of runs from Kerr's bat.
Kerr and Nicole Baird (31 not out, above) broke Blaze's eighth-wicket partnership record with their stand of 102, while the Penfold sisters took four wickets between them - Josie stopping Jess Kerr in a match studded with sibling stars.
Chasing 233 for a win, Hearts captain Maddy Green kept her side in the chase - and her own form running hot, as the top run-scorer nationally this season.
She on 70, at 168/3 with the previous round's centurion Lauren Down already back in the hutch, Green fell victim to Xara Jetly and a very good catch by Hannah Francis.
Jess Kerr's double strike in the penultimate over (3/38) knocked the last puff of wind out the Aucklanders' sails as they chartered their own course to victory at the death in a tight contest, coming back in frustrated with a just-short reply of 223/8.
Auckland still held second spot on the ladder behind the runaway unbeaten Otago Sparks, but they had missed an opportunity to gain valuable ground on the chasing pack - with only the top two sides to proceed to the 1 March Final after 10 rounds.
Meanwhile in New Plymouth, the Central Hinds had gained ground, close enough to overtake them.
