Qualification for the Dream11 Super Smash 2v3 Elimination Final is now just one good win away for the Central Hinds after another exciting victory over the Auckland Hearts.

SCORES

The Hinds made it two from two over the Hearts this summer, a 14-run away victory at Eden Park Outer Oval backing up an equally impressive win at Pukekura Park last weekend.

Central had needed the win to stay alive in the competition, and now heads to Dunedin looking for success against the international-stacked Otago Sparks to put their name forward for the first knockout.

The Hearts sit just four points ahead of them in second spot with two games in hand, while unbeaten defending champs Wellington Blaze has already qualified and will host the Grand Final.

With the Sparks having been penalised 0.5 points for a slow over rate, and Northern Spirit needing three from three to stay an outside chance, the Hinds can take the Sparks out of the running if they can overcome the southerners in a televised doubleheader with the Stags at University of Otago Oval on 11 January.

It will also be a big date for the Stags who now need to fight their way back up from fourth spot, with two games to go - against the Canterbury Kings at Hagley Oval this Tuesday afternoon, and then in Dunedin against the Volts whom they beat in Napier.

Leapfrogged by the Aces in a last-over finish yesterday on a sluggish Outer Oval drop-in, the Stags will also now need to hope the Aces lose at least one of their remaining two rounds.

SCORES

The Hinds' leading run-scorer, NATALIE DODD top-scored yesterday with an anchoring 46 at a run-a-ball clip after co-captain JESS WATKIN had won the toss and batted at a fine but blustery Outer Oval.

Hard-hitter Watkin typically helped her side get off to a fast start with a 20-ball 28, but was stopped in her tracks in the seventh over by Anna Peterson, caught just inside the boundary at 53/2.

The Hearts then continued fighting back with the ball, claiming another pair of big wickets through the middle in Anlo van Deventer and Hannah Rowe - but Dodd's presence through to the death crucially kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Dodd developed a pivotal 50-stand for the fifth wicket with a determined ROSEMARY MAIR who overcame pre-match illness to produce her best T20 knock yet, finding some sweet timing in an unbeaten 36* that easily overtook her previous career best of 18*.

It would turn into a good day with both bat and ball for Mair (2-28) who later put herself on an unconverted hat-trick with the wickets of both Perkins and Kelly as she bowled the final over of the game to seal victory.

Chasing 139, the Hearts couldn’t get their run rate rate moving the way the Hinds had done, spinner Watkin particularly miserly in conceding just eight runs from her first three overs.

Melissa Hansen took a good catch off Rowe in the the windy conditions to get the opening breakthrough at 44/1 - removing Hearts captain and WHITE FERN Peterson, but Holly Huddleston (30 off 33) was well set after having survived a skied edge, also off Rowe, on 18*.

Hansen's introduction to the bowling attack upped the pressure with some tight line and length and, in her second over, saw Huddleston finally caught at long on, at 53/2 in the 11th.

On a day when the fielding had been scratchy, Claudia Green then showed how it was done with a brilliant direct hit from mid-off that ran out Regina Lili'i off Hansen's third over: 68/3.

The pressure began to tell on the hosts and, with five overs left, the Hearts were left needing a tough RRQ of 12. The experienced pair of Katie Perkins (36 off 29) and Arlene Kelly (26 off 25) combined in a 50-run stand, but just couldn’t catch up with the required rate against some tight bowling.

A strong second spell from the WHITE FERNS duo of Mair (2-28) and Rowe (1-25) closed it out, taking the Hinds back up to third spot on the ladder at the exciting crunch end of the round robin.

Article added: Sunday 05 January 2020