It was their best Dream11 Super Smash summer in years, but ended on a heart-breaking note as our high-flying CENTRAL HINDS were defeated in the Grand Final on the last ball by one run.

Making the loss sting all the more was the Hinds had put themselves into a wonderful position in the first innings courtesy of a brilliant performance from ROSEMARY MAIR, right when it counted.

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The seamer sent the WHITE FERNS another reminder note with the second equal most economical haul in Dream11 Super Smash history, returning an outstanding 4-1-5-4 in the biggest match of them all.

This was the Hinds' first Grand Final since the two-Final system was introduced, and they'd got there after a brilliant Elimination Final in Hamilton in which CLAUDIA GREEN took a hat-trick and HOLLIE ARMITAGE and THAMSYN NEWTON crunched a century stand.

Now the Hinds strode onto Eden Park after having been sent in by Wellington Blaze captain Melie Kerr on a rain-interrupted day and calmly dominated the competition's top team with the ball.

Mair was simply outstanding, removing Sophie Devine with her second delivery and adding the scalps of Georgia Plimmer (trapped for no score in her first spell), and Kerr and Tash Codyre (in the final over).

A brief burst of rain at the start of the game had seen the game reduced to 19 overs and then 17 overs per side, which meant only two bowlers could bowl four overs. Mair had great support from Green who back up her career-best four-fa in Hamilton with a sizzling 2/12 off three overs, and PRIYANAZ CHATTERJI who conceded just 23 runs off her four overs of wicket-to-wicket heat.

Spinner ASHTUTI KUMAR (1/22) also injected a moment of brilliance with her sliding catch to remove Kate Chandler as well as taking the big wicket of Jess Kerr, with HANNAH ROWE (1/26) doing the catching honours.

It all added up to a seeming night-mair for Wellington Blaze who were bowled out for just 89 in the Grand Final, dismissed on the last ball of the innings.

But it would be tit for tat as Wellington's famous spin trio put the squeeze on through the middle of the chase with 11 overs that turned the screws and game.

The definition of a low-scoring thriller was redefined as the Blaze showed all their big-match experience - this was Wellington's eighth Dream11 Super Smash title - to shut down the Hinds' scoring opportunities.

Powerful Armitage (21 off 17) and captain NATALIE DODD (18 off 29) were key wickets, after a 23-run opening stand.

Devine had accounted for Armitage and then the super spinners came on and clamped down, Xara Jetly (0/12 off three overs) and Melie Kerr (0/14 off four) each conceding just a single off their first overs.

Leigh Kasperek (1/12) had an influence too, picking up the wicket of Dodd with a return catch.

Captain Kerr had been both the top run-scorer and top wicket-taker in the regular season, and had also played an important hand with the bat in the trophy decider with her run-a-ball 35 the Blaze's top score.

The Hinds just couldn't match it, and found themselves behind the eight ball - and a tad behind the DLS - throughout the chase, albeit still in with a chance and headed for a last-over finish.

The two sides had tied their previous encounter in Wellington, and the cricket gods threatened to go there again with a couple of helpful death-over extras from Blaze in the mix. The Hinds needed six off the last three deliveries, then four runs off the last two balls, in yet another nailbiter.

Plimmer struck a vital blow as she fired in the throw to Devine to run out capable striker MIKAELA GREIG off the penultimate delivery, as Greig raced for a second run.

That brought Green to the middle, with Newton (27 not out) left to swing at the last delivery against her former side who had the wood on her on this occasion.

But there was only ever going to be one more run, as Green turned, ran in sheer hope, and watched the bails knocked off in front of her - the Blaze inking themselves in as champions with that final act of the innings.

The Blaze had been the top qualifier, and returned to the podium for the first time in two years after having been the beaten finalists last summer.

The Hinds now farewell crowd-pleasing overseas pros Armitage and Chatterji as they return to continue their one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield season.

The Blaze lead the one-day table by three points with four games in the regular season to go, and will now be eyeing up the double - and the next matches are, yes, a big rematch with the Central Hinds at the Cello Basin Reserve on the upcoming weekend of 3 and 4 February.

Blaze officially lifted the 2023/24 Dream11 Super Smash title by just one run (DLS), the runout on the last ball preventing the Grand Final heading to a Super Over.

Central Districts Cricket is extremely proud of the CENTRAL HINDS' campaign this summer and congratulates Head Coach JACOB ORAM, assistant coach DEEPAK JOON and all the team on a season that marked out the side as genuine contenders once more.

WOMEN'S 2024 GRAND FINAL SCORECARD

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Wellington Blaze

2. Central Hinds

3. Northern Brave

4. Otago Sparks

5. Canterbury Magicians

6. Auckland Hearts

Article added: Monday 29 January 2024