It's been an impressive, running start to the season for our CENTRAL HINDS who dominated the annual North Island Quadrangular Tournament at Owen Delany Park, Taupo over Labour Weekend.

This season's quad tournament - one of the major warm-ups for the start of the Women's NZC Domestic season - was a mix of two T20 matches and one 50-over match against the Auckland Hearts, Northern Districts and Wellington Blaze, and the Hinds were the only team to go unbeaten into the last T20 on Labour Day Monday.

MELISSA HANSEN starred with the ball in the opening T20 on Saturday against the Auckland Hearts, taking 3-18.

The Hinds had batted first, GEORGIA ATKINSON stepping up at the top of the order with a quick 34, combining with first drop KERRY TOMLINSON who continued her off-season form with a handy 24.

The Hinds posted 118/7 in their 20, then restricted the Hearts to just 99/9 for a good win over the team they will face in the opening round of the HBJ Shield at Pukekura Park  on 19 November.

The second day saw a switch to the one-day format, but no change of mindset from the Hinds who took a comfortable victory over Northern Districts in a non-regulation match that saw ND field 13 players in the batting order.

 

 

MONIQUE REES stepped up with the wickets for this match, taking 3-42 off her six overs while OCEAN BARTLETT (2-24 off three overs) and Atkinson (2-4 off 2.4) helped dismiss the extended ND line-up in just the 41st over for a total of 183.

Top order star NATALIE DODD looked a cut above against her former side, leading the way in the quick chase with 61 off 43 balls (including eight boundaries) before she retired not out, at a handsome strike rate of 141.38.

First drop CATE PEDERSEN also retired on 52 (62 balls) with the team focus on overall squad preparation, just two Hinds batters dismissed en route to knocking off their target in the 29th over.

The Blaze had been beaten ND in their T20 on Saturday then lost to the Hearts in Sunday's other one-dayer ahead of the final T20 showdown on Monday.

The Hinds batted first and, as expected, the Dream11 Super Smash women's champions from the capital laid down a challenge in their best format.

They had the Hinds 78/6 with just over five overs to go, the top five (with JESS WATKIN coming in for Dodd) all back in the tent.

However, timely contributions from Rees (15 off 13), Bartlett (an unbeaten 19* off 17) and Hansen (a run-a-ball 17) down the order got the Hinds up to a score of 118/8 in their 20 overs, Pedersen with the top score of 24.

 

ROSEMARY MAIR made a great start to defending that total by bowling big hitting Rebecca Burns at the top, going for just 2 runs off her opening two-over spell.

That was followed quickly by a wicket to Watkin at 18/2.

Blaze dangerwoman Thamsyn Newton was the fellow opening bat and she remained a big threat, going on to reach a quick half-century off just 40-odd balls.

Watkin had picked up a second victim in another experienced erstwhile WHITE FERN, Leigh Kasperek, on 19 at 78/3, but by the 15th over Blaze needed just 25 runs off the last five overs.

Watkin struck quickly again, bowling Caitlin King cheaply, before the economical Mair returned for the 18th in what was shaping to be a touch-and-go finish.

Olivia Boivin was providing Newton with run-a-ball support; the Blaze requiring 10 runs off the last two overs.

After a good 19th from Hansen, Blaze needed four off the last over and capped off a close game with Newton finishing unbeaten on her match-winning 66*, getting home with just two balls to spare.

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Article added: Monday 24 October 2022