Satterthwaite beaten in final game as Blaze clinch final

Wellington Blaze celebrate victory over Canterbury Magicians in the Hallyburton Shield Final.
Photo: Photosport

Wellington Blaze have deprived retiring Canterbury Magicians great Amy Satterthwaite the ideal last game by winning the final of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield women’s one-day competition in Queenstown.

The Cantabrians lost by just four runs after taking a fierce run chase to final over, led by top-scorer Satterthwaite, who compiled 66 off 72 in the 323rd and final list A game of her career before departing at a key point in the 45th over.

However, her knock wasn’t as influential as that of Maddy Green, who struck 106 off exactly a run per ball in Wellington’s 258-8 off 50 overs which set up their first one-day title in 19 years.

Green had sound support from opener Jess McFadyen while Gabby Sullivan took 4-54 for Canterbury.

Wellington captain Leigh Kasperek took 4-46 but it was another Blaze spin bowler – 19-year-old Nicole Baird – who held her nerve best when asked to bowl the 50th and final over, with Canterbury needing 13 to win.

After conceding eight runs of her first four balls, Baird bowled the experiend Lea Tahuhu to effectively decide the outcome and deny Canterbury a domestic double, having secured the Super Smash Twenty20 crown.

– RNZ