ROUND TWO
Auckland Hearts beat Wellington Blaze by 10 runs
Basin Reserve, 17 November 2019
Well done to Anna Peterson & Katie Perkins who both scored centuries in Auckland's 9-run victory in the women's Hallyburton Johnstone Shield cricket match between the @Wgtn_Blaze and @AucklandHearts here today 📸 Dave Lintott pic.twitter.com/gObvid9fip
— Basin Reserve (@BasinReserve) November 17, 2019
After an opening round loss to Wellington Blaze on Saturday, Sunday saw normal service resume for the Auckland Hearts with new skipper Anna Peterson posting her first century of the season in her first win as captain.
Peterson (102* off 99 balls) combined with fellow WHITE FERN Katie Perkins (101* off 94 balls) in a massive 198*-run fourth-wicket stand in a competitive 262 for three at the Basin Reserve - after having been sent in by Blaze captain Deanna Doughty.
News here is that the @Wgtn_Blaze have won the toss and will bowl against @AucklandHearts hearts with play underway at 10.30am pic.twitter.com/J4pJw9TcWV
— Basin Reserve (@BasinReserve) November 16, 2019
It was Peterson's maiden Women's List A century to boot, and a third and career best for Perkins; and easily surpassed the former Auckland Hearts fourth-wicket partnership record of 157*, that had been set by Sara McGlashan and (now Blaze rep) Maddy Green just two seasons earlier.
Blaze had had their visitors in trouble at 64 for three before the experienced duo calmly wrested control from the 22nd over, and batted through the remainder of the innings.
Perkins started cautiously but blasted seven boundaries in the space of just 10 deliveries to race through the 80s and 90s to reach three figures in the nick of time.
Katie Perkins | PHOTOSPORT
In reply, Blaze made a strong start, the top three all in the runs but ultimately being kept in check by Peterson with the ball.
Jess McFadyen (45) and the powerful Rebecca "Boomer" Burns (58, 7 x 4, 1 x 6) put on 97 for the first wicket and that was followed by McFadyen sharing a 40-run stand with Liz Green-Perry (55).
However, Peterson bowled both Green-Perry and Burns shortly after they had reached their respective fifties, proving just enough to take away crucial momentum. Roz McNeill meanwhile picked up 2-58 at the death.
Bowling at fifth change, Peterson carried on to finish with 4-43 off her 10 overs, in a tense finish that saw Blaze coming with touching distance at 253 for seven, but falling just nine runs short in the allotted 50 overs after Holly Huddleston permitted just three runs off her 49th.
They had needed 27 off 14 balls. Arlene Kelly took the ball for the last over and, while Maneka Singh found the boundary three times, she and Xara Jetly could find only 14 runs in a tough final-over equation.
