The Canterbury Magicians have got off to the perfect start in their 2011 Action Cricket Twenty20 season opener, beating the Auckland Hearts by six wickets.
White Fern Frances Mackay enjoyed her return to the competition, bowling four economic overs and smashing an unbeaten 62, helping the defending champs get off to a winning start.
Winning the toss, the Magicians decided to bowl first and would have felt that their bowlers justified the decision. The Hearts got off to a solid start, Katie Perkins (29) and under-21 sensation Maddie Green (35) playing particularly well. But while they were successful at keeping their wickets, the run rate left a lot to be desired. Canterbury’s bowlers shut the Hearts down and after 20 overs the Hearts had posted just 116 for four.
Although the Magicians’ bowlers struggled for wickets, they were accurate and miserly. Fast bowler Lea Tahuhu bowled an economic spell of four overs for 23 and picked up a wicket.
In reply Canterbury got off to a flyer, with Mackay and Janet Brehaut getting their team to 54 before Brehaut was dismissed for 22. However the damage had been done, Mackay going on to smash her way past the half century and finding enough support from Mandie Godliman (9) and Amy Satterthwaite (19).
Stefanie Taylor tried to give the home side a chance, taking two wickets and bowling her three overs for 18 runs. It was all to no avail. The Magician’s eventually wrapped up the game with three balls to spare, Mackay seeing that the current champs got their campaign off on a winning note.
