Canterbury and Auckland still remain unbeaten having recorded victories on the third day of the Nationals Women’s Under-21 tournament, but it’s the host who sit on top having claimed their third straight bonus point.
Canterbury overcame Central Districts, while Auckland toppled Northern Districts to stay just two points shy of the leaders. Wellington was the other side to pick up a win, having crushed Otago to also keep in touch with the front two.
Canterbury’s Hannah Malloch and Wellington’s Deanna Dougherty put in the bowling performances of the day by both getting five wicket bags, while Hayley Jensen was the top scorer of the day with 89.
The tournament now has a one day break before going into the Twenty20 format on Monday.
Auckland v Northern Districts
Auckland collected another win having convincingly beaten Northern Districts by 107 runs on day three.
Behind 86 from, Arlene Kelly Auckland posted 246 for nine from their 50 overs, before limiting neighbours Northern to 139 for eight.
It was a case of only being able to make starts in the Northern pursuit, with six players making 12 or above, but no one able to surpass 50.
Kate Anderson top scored with 33, while Emma parker was next best with 26. They would still fall well short though, with Auckland taking wickets at crucial times.
Alex Eastwood spearheaded the bowling attack with three wickets, while four others took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, opener Arlene Kelly backed up a strong performance from yesterday with another solid effort today. Kelly top-scored for her side and found the boundary 14 times in her 83 ball innings.
Her captain Sarah Carnachan showed good support with 46 at the top of the order, but found little aid from the middle and lower-order to see them held to just short of 250.
Alisha Rout was the best of the Northern bowlers and claimed figure of three for 47 from seven overs.
Central Districts v Canterbury
Canterbury took maximum points again by narrowly claiming a bonus point win over Northern Districts by three wickets.
Central Women were dismissed for 176 with two balls remaining in the first innings. In reply Canterbury reached the target in the 41st over, hitting a boundary to bring up the victory and claim all five points.
Hayley Jensen was once again pivotal in the pursuit, making an unbeaten 89 to see her side home. She found little support from the rest of the top-order though, with three of the top four failing to make double digits.
Hannah Mauafu made an important 17 not out at the end of the innings, as the hosts won after 40.3 overs.
Earlier, Hannah Malloch had snared five wickets for Canterbury to restrict Central to 175.
The middle-order did most of the work for the visitors, with four players scoring 21 or above. Kelly Rangi was the best of the batsmen with 30, while 39 extras also helped Central to a respectable score.
Malloch though was a force with the ball and made sure that Central would not go beyond 200.
The strike bowler finished with the extraordinary figures of five for 18 from 9.4 overs. Mauafu was also effective with figures of two for 35.
Wellington v Otago
Wellington bet Otago by a considerable 209 runs, dismissing the southerners for just 71 in the second innings. And claiming a bonus point win.
Wellington set an imposing 280 for six in their 50 overs and then proceeded to bowl Otago out in the 32nd over to win.
None of the Otago batsmen really got going in the pursuit, with Polly Inglis (12) and Mandy McDonald (11) the only two to make double figures.
Deanna Dougherty was lethal with the ball and claimed figures of five for 25 from 10 overs.
Earlier, a combined effort from the Wellington batsmen had seen them make a total of 250 plus.
Courtney Sprott (61) and Lisa Kasperek (64) were the biggest contributors for their side and propelled Wellinton to an imposing total, after Rebecca Burns made 47 at the start of the innings.
Gemma Krebs finished off the innings nicely with an unbeaten 36 from 43 balls to amass a very competitive total.
Kate Stiven and Sarah Osborne put in valiant efforts with the ball and took two wickets each.
Points table:
Canterbury 15
Auckland 13
Wellington 10
Northern Districts 4
Central Districts 0
Otago 0
