• Northern Districts earns second tilt at the national one-day title, a trophy they have never lifted
• Three teams vying to join them; defending champs Otago Sparks ousted
• Auckland Hearts captain Maddy Green scores record-breaking century in a record stand
Skipper's special day in Auckland | PHOTOSPORT
Northern Districts has become the first team to secure a spot in the 2025/26 NZC national one-day finals, with two rounds to spare.
Jess Watkin’s side brushed aside the Canterbury Magicians in both matches over the weekend at Hagley Oval to lock in a berth in the 21 February Final at the Cello Basin Reserve, with the remaining spot up for grabs in the last two regular season rounds this weekend.
Northern has appeared in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final just once before, qualifying top in 2019/20 but losing to the Auckland Hearts in a high-scoring epic at a bone-dry Seddon Park.
That coming-of-age match produced 577 runs and a century apiece, sitting in the annals as one of the great NZC national final contests of all time.
Northern had already defeated the Hearts at the same venue once that summer in a nail-biting finish to the regular season — a tight win that not only cemented hosting rights [Finals are now played at predetermined venues], but provided a dress rehearsal between the two outstanding one-day sides of the 2020 season.
In the trophy match, Hearts veteran Arlene Kelly scored her maiden century in Auckland’s hefty 322 for five (still Auckland’s equal best one-day total, although they came within 23 runs of it yesterday) while a fighting captain’s knock of 124 off 120 balls from then-Northern skipper Felicity Leydon-Davis (now playing for the Sparks as Felicity Robertson) was the home highlight in the bittersweet chase.
A 2020 heartbreaker ton | PHOTOSPORT
On any other day, that effort would have stopped the ship from sinking, but her dismissal ended the game and she walked off Seddon Park crestfallen after what had been a breakthrough summer for her ND side.
In the previous decade, Northern had finished no higher than fourth.
Today, the team is coming off a run of last, second-to-last, and last place in the last three seasons, but narrowly missed out a place in the 2022 Final when they finished third.
They now follow up their Super Smash Elimination Final appearance a fortnight ago — another game lost to the Hearts, who had qualified in third spot — with a second tilt at the one-day trophy.
PHOTOSPORT
After lifting the title for the last two seasons, defending champs the Sparks (two wins, six losses) have meanwhile been ousted with two rounds still to play, along with the Canterbury Magicians (one win, seven losses) in a tough season all-round for the two southernmost sides.
The Sparks run out of time for a threepeat | PHOTOSPORT
Perennial Super Smash champion Wellington Blaze meanwhile needs just two points from their last two rounds — both against the Hearts at the Basin this coming weekend — to secure the last spot in the Final at the same ground, which will be at their home ground regardless.
The Blaze would dearly love a shot at regaining the title they last held in 2023.
PHOTOSPORT
Around the country, there will be eyes on the weather forecast in the capital — a washout would do the trick for the Blaze, otherwise they need to stop Maddy Green’s dangerous Hearts from winning twice, with a bonus point.
The Hearts will be fighting for a chance to make the Final in their stead and will also be hoping for the weather to play ball —one washout would be fatal to their hopes and those of the Hinds.
Emma McLeod, Hinds form batter | MBUTCHER
The Hearts and Hinds are level on 18 points after having split the winnings from the latest two rounds in Auckland, in two remarkable games.
Yesterday’s match saw nearly 600 runs scored, the Hinds falling short in a 300-chase by just six runs.
Hearts captain Maddy Green earlier posted her 10th List A century in a Hearts all-time record third-wicket partnership of 181 with Bella Armstrong (75).
PHOTOSPORT
It saw Green break the Auckland record for most Hallyburton Johnstone Shield centuries, her fifth ton in the blue taking her past a mark that had been held jointly by such luminaries as Rebecca Rolls, Katie Perkins, Emily Drumm and her teammate Lauren Down who was marking her 100th match for the side yesterday at the outer oval.
Green also has two Hallyburton Johnstone Shield hundreds for the Blaze from a midcareer sojourn between 2020/21 and 2022/23.
The Hinds will be off to Mount Maunganui to play Northern this weekend, where the forecast looks good. But they will need not only two wins and a bonus point themselves, but for the Hearts to beat the Blaze twice in Wellington.
Despite another century, Kate Anderson and the Magicians are out | MBUTCHER
Jess Watkin’s northerners have inked in their Final spot after an outstanding seven wins from their eight rounds, a team effort with different players standing up across the campaign.
Four of those wins have gleaned bonus points — more than any other side this season; and with a strong net run rate as they occupy top spot on 32 points.
The Blaze could still overtake them on the ladder however, which would become a critical factor if the 21 February Final happened to be washed out.
POINTS after 8 of 10 rounds
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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
