With a powerhouse opening partnership, the Central Hinds came within just one hit of rewriting another record in Saturday's big Dream11 Super Smash 22-run win over the previously unbeaten Auckland Hearts.

Taranaki opening batsman EMILY CUNNINGHAM, 22, produced her career best with a new mark of 45 on her home ground of Pukekura Park - joining 21-year-old co-captain JESS WATKIN in a 76-run stand for the first wicket that got the hosts off to a fast start inside the powerplay.

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The Watkin-Cunningham combo saw the ball sailing regularly off to, or over, the rope inside the first nine overs, setting a new opening stand record for the Hinds against the Hearts - and finishing just four runs shy of the all-time Hinds mark of 80 held by Kerry Tomlinson and former Hind Rachel Priest, set at Fitzherbert Park in 2011/12.

EMILY CUNNINGHAM | Photosport

The Pukekura Park pair put on the first 50 together in just 32 balls in 22 action-packed minutes, Watkin dominating the strike before Cunningham kicked on to bat through into the final over, sharing another 50-stand with first drop Natalie Dodd (40 off 34) en route.

Cunningham's 45 came off just 50 balls, including four boundaries and a six, in her best performance yet for the Hinds.

Both the defending men’s champions the Stags and the resurgent Hinds remain in Finals contention ahead of their final home doubleheader this Thursday 2 January in Napier, needing a strong finish through the back end of their respective campaigns to fend off challengers.

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The Central Hinds have emerged as the dark horse of the women’s title fight. The Hinds were New Zealand 2018/19 national one-day champions, but didn’t win a single game in last year’s T20 Super Smash.

This summer, they’ve now gone three from seven to sit third-equal on points — and have notably defeated last year’s Grand Finalists the Canterbury Magicians both home and away.

The second of those wins was the perfect way to celebrate their first historic appearance at McLean Park last week, and co-captains Jess Watkin and Hannah Rowe’s team will be looking to dish up a repeat this Thursday when they face a reinvigorated Otago Sparks team who have WHITE FERNS star Suzie Bates back from the Women’s Big Bash across the ditch and making an impact.

Both sides will head into the Napier match with three wins from seven rounds in a head to head battle to remain on course for a berth in the top three qualifying spots.

Watkin has been in sensational touch, coming off her fastest T20 half century, having reached the milestone in just 26 balls against the Hearts as she continues to dominate attacks on both formats this summer.

Watkin's half century is understood to be the second fastest in NZ women’s domestic T20 history, with Northern Spirit’s Katie Gurrey having hit 50 off 24 balls against the Central Hinds in Lincoln a few weeks earlier this season — a match in which Watkin also slaughtered 50 off 31 balls.

Gates will open at McLean Park at 2.40PM ahead of the Hinds start time of 3.40PM, with the Stags beginning under lights at 7.10PM.  Doubleheader tickets — available from Ticketek or at the gate — gain entry to both matches on the same day and spectators wearing green will be in to win spot prizes as both the Stags and Hinds look start the New Year off with a win.

Following their final day at home, the Stags will hit the road to play in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, with the Hinds joining them for crunch doubleheaders on the Auckland and Dunedin legs.

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Article added: Tuesday 31 December 2019