JESS WATKIN'S astounding maiden Central Hinds century together with another solid knock from consistent NATALIE DODD saw the Central Hinds smash the national record for the highest opening partnership in the history of the one-day competition at Karori Park on the weekend.

Watkin's powerhouse 158 off 124 balls, including 17 boundaries and three sixes, was one of the biggest maiden centuries seen, while Dodd added the first-wicket record to the mammoth 328 second-wicket and all wickets partnership record she broke with Anlo van Deventer in Palmerston North last year.

Scores

Watkin and Dodd poured on 216 for the first wicket against Wellington Blaze in Sunday's rain-interrupted fourth round, eclipsing a national mark of 199 that had been held by Otago Sparks duo Paula Flannery and Elizabeth Scurr against the Auckland Hearts at Queenstown since 2004/05.

CENTRAL HINDS ARE 40 NOT OUT THIS SEASON - FIND OUT MORE

Whanganui-based Watkin's entertaining innings was also the second highest individual score in the Hinds' 40-year history, Watkin caught just 11 runs shy of equalling captain van Deventer's unbeaten 169*, set at Fitzherbert Park earlier this year.

Watkin and Dodd batted for 35 overs of Sunday's match after it was reduced to a 40-over affair by rain early in the innings.

Dodd was the first to eventually depart when she was bowled by Deanna Doughty, but only after two and a quarter hours of frustration for the Wellington Blaze attack.

The pair underpinned a hefty Hinds total of 260 for three in the 40 overs, but their sparkling effort was in vain when rain returned early in the Blaze's chase and the match was washed out, with both sides taking two points each.

The Hinds remain top of the table, however, still the only unbeaten side after four rounds of the national one-day competition.

However, an incredibly tight win to Northern Spirit in Dunedin meanwhile saw their points lead narrowed to a single point, setting up an exciting top-of-the-table clash at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui next Saturday 7 Dec and Sunday 8 Dec.

Article added: Monday 02 December 2019