2024/25 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 1
Saturday 16 November 2024
Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
NORTHERN DISTRICTS lost to AUCKLAND HEARTS by 7 wickets
Auckland Hearts : 4 points
Northern Districts : 0 points
Jess Watkin is now ND's captain
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SELECTED MILESTONES
Nensi Patel: 50th List A appearance for Northern Districts
Skye Bowden: Northern Districts List A debut (previously Auckland Hearts)
Jess Watkin: ND captaincy debut
Hearts captain Maddy Green showed her steadying hand again as the WHITE FERN helped to guide her side to an opening round win on the first day of the 2024/25 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
After having lost their way in last season's campaign, the once dominant Hearts are out to make amends, and a century stand between Green and opening batter Saachi Shahri for the second wicket was the difference in what should have been a tougher chase.
But the Hearts lost only three wickets en route to ticking off their 248 target with more than five overs to spare on a humid Bay of Plenty afternoon.
Mumbai-born Kiwi Shahri (above), who juggles a busy role as an Engineering Planning Analyst for Air New Zealand with playing cricket, has become increasingly productive in this format over the last few seasons, and now has 12 half centuries for the Hearts.
The maiden century is still something to look forward to, but her knock of 76 off 96 balls was looking good with some deftly timed cut shots and cover drives before daring to loft a few as her innings gathered momentum.
Green's 65 came off 73 deliveries (above), pouncing on the loose ball and using her feet, on a day when a pesky breeze made life difficult for both bowlers and batters, at times.
Together, the experienced pair shared a 117-run stand, building on an opening partnership of 46, with Izzy Gaze and Prue Catton later doing the finishing after Green had lofted a catch off Eve Woolland.
Northern, now captained by former Hinds captain Jess Watkin after veteran Eimear Richardson's return to Ireland, conceded 30 extras in the windy conditions, which did not help their cause.
Green had sent them in at Bay Oval and the first wicket fell just two balls into the match with Yaz Kareem chasing dangerous Bree Illing's outswinger to be caught behind.
Illing (2/42) was one of the real finds for the rebuilding Hearts last season, a prodigious swing weapon particularly at the top, and opened the attack with Amie Hucker before the Penfold sisters combined at change.
After 18 overs, Northern had recovered to build a reasonable plinth at 89/1, but a double strike by Fran Jonas (2/40) saw Tash Wakelin and Bernadine Bezuidenhout depart in swift succession, a double wicket maiden.
Caitlin Gurrey who run out on one of her favourite grounds off the first ball of Jonas's next over, great awareness and a sharp throw from Green stopping her on 27 as she looked to run a tight leg bye: 90/4.
Wickets fell too regularly for ND through the middle, and by the time influential Watkin was gone, caught off Molly Penfold after a run-a-ball 42 in the 34th over, it was 167/8.
The late order produced a fight, however, to take it to the last over before the second runout of the innings stopped the scoreboard at 247.
Northern had looked a little rusty at times, but with a few diamonds of individual brilliance sprinkled across the dirt while the Hearts headed to the right end of the table.
Both sides will meet for a rematch in round two, this Sunday 17 November - with free admission and free livestreams at NZC YouTube.
