2024/25 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 1
Saturday 16 November 2024
Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington
WELLINGTON BLAZE lost to CENTRAL HINDS by 41 runs
Bonus point win
Central Hinds : 5 points
Wellington Blaze : 0 points
Viv Stephens Memorial Trophy Match - Central Hinds reclaimed the trophy
Two new captains
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SELECTED MILESTONES
Mikaela Greig: Central Hinds captaincy debut
Rebecca Burns: Wellington Blaze captaincy debut
Hannah Rowe: 150th List A appearance (all teams)
Claudia Green: List A career best (21 not out)
Ocean Bartlett: maiden List five-wicket bag (6/27)
A maiden bag for young Central Hinds leg-spinner Ocean Bartlett got the Hinds a good win in a low-scoring opener on the first day of the 2024/25 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
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Conditions were tough and unpleasant at the Cello Basin Reserve, with rain in the morning delaying and shortening Wellington Blaze's first home match, and a blustery wind adding to the afternoon's challenges.
But the Hinds will have been grateful that the weather eventually cooperated, picking up a bonus point thanks to Bartlett's 6/27 - the fouth best haul in their team's history [the following day, this would be relegated to fifth].
The toss saw two first-time captains in the middle, Rebecca Burns on captaincy debut against her former team, and Mikaela Greig leading the Hinds with regular captain Natalie Dodd sitting out the season for motherhood.
Dangerous Xara Jetly
The morning rain had reduced the match to 43 overs per side, Greig winning her first toss and electing to bat.
Moving up to open the batting this season, young Emma McLeod got a start with 25 which proved the top score - as the Hinds lost a string of cheap big wickets for single digit scores, WHITE FERN Jess Kerr and dangerous spinner Xara Jetly quickly tucking in.
Kerr (above) was on her way to an outstanding 4/17, and Jetly eventually picked up 3/32 after a short fightback from the lower order.
In the context of the game and conditions, every partnership was a valuable one as Flora Devonshire steadied the lower order with a 23-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Rosemary Mair; and 27-run partnership with keeper-batter Kate Gaging (below) who offered the Hinds a genuine batting option at eight.
A good catch from Tash Codyre in the windy conditions brought a key breakthrough, Devonshire caught off Rachel Bryant's second over at 89/7.
Blaze should have had the advantage from there, especially with Leigh Kasperek's impressive control in the wind, but the Hinds' tail kept fighting for every run.
Claudia Green found an unbeaten 21* - her career best, and last batter Aniela Apperley contributing a handy 13, both finding the fence twice with positive strokes.
So the Blaze target swelled to 142, and swing bowler Green was soon in the action again as she removed the Blaze captain at 19/1.
Green was en route to a good haul of 3/19 off her seven overs, but would be overshadowed by Bartlett's breakthrough performance.
Bartlett came on in the 13th over when the hosts were 37/1, and ended up routing them for just 100.
The lithe 21-year-old looked to have gained some strength as she bowled Hannah Francis with a beauty in her second over, then added the big wicket of Kasperek at the start of her third, captain Greig taking a sharp catch at slip.
With Green having struck twice in between, four wickets in the space of 12 balls, the Blaze's dressing room door was suddenly swinging too quickly, after their promising start.
Kerr and Jetly now had a big job to do with the bat as two new batters at the crease, their team 46/5.
They soon found the boundary, but Bartlett spun in again for the wicket of Kerr in the 19th over, Devonshire running some distance to pouch a well judged skied and swirling catch.
Jetly was joined by Nicole Baird and they put on 34 for the seventh wicket, the highest stand of the Blaze innings.
But at 96/6, the Hinds' other Wairarapa legspinner, Georgia Atkinson, outfoxed Jetly on 28.
It was a wicket maiden for Atkinson whose tight 1/3 off three overs put pressure on the Blaze lower order, allowing Bartlett to carry on taking their wickets at the other end.
The youngster bowled Antonia Hamilton at 97/8, and struck twice in what turned out to be the last over, the 32nd, to seal both her maiden bag and the match (albeit with a lavish full toss that didn't deserve to spoil her day) with a bonus point.
A good achievement in a low-scoring rumble.
