In a match reduced to 28 overs, Northern Districts still managed to record their second biggest one-day winning margin, thumping the Central Hinds by 127 runs at Bay Oval on Saturday.
The penultimate round match also saw ND skipper Jess Watkin smash the fastest fifty in the history of the competition, off just 26 balls, as Northern showed exactly why they’ve qualified top for this year’s national Final with their eighth consecutive victory, and fifth with a bonus point to boot.
Winning's become such a habit that it's hard to remember that this is the team that’s usually in the bottom two on the ladder. A side that has made the national one-day Final in this long-running competition only once before.
Josie Penfold | PHOTOSPORT
Elsewhere in the round nine matches, weather also delayed the start at the Cello Basin Reserve where the Auckland Hearts, like the Hinds at the Mount, had needed to win to stay alive in the race for the last spot in the Final.
Hosts Wellington Blaze meanwhile just need one win from the weekend to claim that berth, but they didn’t get it today after Josie Penfold took her maiden bag - a magnificent 6/30, in a solid win for the Aucklanders.
Penfold's career best came after a hot start from Bree Illing who scythed off the first four wickets, including Melie Kerr back from the WPL, and her sister Jess Kerr, for 4/24.
So the last spot in the Final comes down to the result of the rematch tomorrow at the Basin, meanwhile down south in Dunedin - the only venue to see the sun all day, former champions the Otago Sparks suffered another blow, this time at the hands of the Canterbury Magicians in the cellar dweller contest.
Kate Anderson | PHOTOSPORT
The Magicians won by six wickets after a tepid batting effort from the hosts, Kate Anderson producing an unbeaten 84* in reply in her strong summer of runs and helping her team get a bonus point as well.
Tomorrow they’ll come back to decide who gets to take home the wooden spoon, while at Bay Oval Northern will be looking to extend their own record winning streak to nine.
All matches begin at the same venues at 10.30am, weather permitting.
POINTS after 9 of 10 rounds
maximum 5 points available per match
Q1 37 Northern Districts
27 Wellington Blaze
23 Auckland Hearts
18 Central Hinds
10 Otago Sparks
10 Canterbury Magicians
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Livescores, detailed results, points table, stats and livestreams are available here
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There are a maximum of five points up for grabs in each fixture, if teams win with a sufficient margin to obtain a bonus point
- All matches are livestreamed on NZC YouTube
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Matches are scheduled to begin at 10.30am
