The Central Hinds have chased down a poor total posted by the Northern Spirit, thanks to well-paced innings by a couple of the old-heads in the team.
Set just 90 runs to win by the Spirits, White Ferns Sara McGlashan and Rachel Priest have completed the chase down in the final over, the Hinds just three wickets down.
After opting to bat first, Northern struggled to find any rhythm in their innings and soon found themselves at 39-5. It could have been a whole lot worse for the Spirit, but lower order batsman Felicity Leydon-Davis came to the home teams’ aid, top scoring with 22 off 26 deliveries. Nicola Brown (11) and Heidi Arndt (14) also chipped in, but the Spirit eventually finished their 20 overs at 89 for nine.
Eimaar Richardson and Sandee Hui were the chief destroyers, picking up three wickets a piece, in what was a fantastic bowling display by the Hinds.
In reply, Central recovered from the early dismissal of Richardson (0), McGlashan and Priest settling in at the crease early. The pair almost played out the innings, McGlashan getting 50 and Priest 27. It looked like it was going to be all too easy for the Hinds, but when Rhiana Vincent collected both Priest and McGlashan in quick succession, the Spirit saw a glimmer of hope. It wasn’t to be, Kate Broadmore and Esther Lanser seeing Central to victory in the final over.
The Hinds took the points in what turned out to be fairly close affair at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui. They will be pleased to see their strike players already firing, but as for Northern, they will be looking to find some consistency in their batting.
