Hearts are trumps in finals chase

THE Auckland Hearts have done all they can in the race for the Twenty20 Super Smash finals, but they’ll have to wait one day more to see if it’s enough.

On the back of a 100-run opening stand by Lauren Down and Katie Perkins, they chased down their target of 136 at Eden Park yesterday, but weren’t able to lift their net run rate above the Canterbury Magicians, so now need the defending champs to lose to the second-placed

Otago Sparks in Dunedin today.

If the Magicians win, they will head back to Dunedin for a rematch in the elimination final on Thursday, with the winner of that match going on to play the undefeated Wellington Blaze in the decider on Saturday.

If the Sparks win, it will be the Hearts heading south instead to determine the second finalist.

At 111-0 in the 15th over, the Hearts had a golden opportunity to significantly boost their net run-rate and keep alive the possibility of advancing even if the Magicians were to win narrowly.

Perkins brought up her halfcentury with a six down the ground as she went on the attack, but she was bowled by Melissa Hansen for 67 off 54.

Down then followed four balls later, caught by Mikayla Greig off the bowling of Rosemary

Mair for 36 off 38.

The Hearts were 115-2 needing 21 off 27 at that point and while Holly Huddleston and Saachi Shari got them there with 10 balls to spare, that wasn’t enough to lift their rate past Canterbury’s.

They will now have to sit and watch as the Sparks and Magicians go head-to-head today, cheering on a team they’ll then need to beat four days later.

Yesterday’s match was played

on the main field at Eden Park as part of a celebration of essential workers who have played important roles in New

Zealand’s response to the Covid19 pandemic. It was the first-ever domestic women’s Twenty20 fixture played on the ground.

The Hinds stand-in captain Hannah Rowe won the toss and chose to bat, and they ultimately posted 135-3 from their 20 overs.

They lost Emily Cunningham early, bowled by Holly Huddleston for eight off 13 but Kerry-Anne Tomlinson and Rosemary Mair came together for a 70-run partnership.

Anna Peterson suffered a back injury while fielding that left the Hearts without a key batter, but openers Down and Perkins gave the perfect platform.