Hearts win, top table; Gurrey ton sinks Hinds in sixth HJ Shield round

Katie Gurrey continued her impressive run with the bat in this season, notching up yet another unbeaten ton in Northern Spirit’s win over Central Hinds. She managed to see off the 179-run chase without much fuss, finishing 101 not out off 106 balls. That feat saw her batting average climb over 100 for this season, where she has scored three half centuries in addition to the two tons.
This was after a collective effort with the ball coupled with as many as four run outs saw Central hinds being bowled out for a mere 178 at the Bay Oval in a game, that was reduced to 46 overs-a-side. Apart from Jess Watkin and Hannah Rowe, who got into the thirties, none other batters stepped up. Emma Baker and captain Felicity Leydon-Davis picked up two wickets for Spirit.
At Melville Park, Lauren Down’s unconquered 88 and a 53 by Saachi Shahri, where the duo added 134 for the opening wicket, was enough for Auckland Hearts to win and go atop the table with 23 points. It was easy work for Hearts’ batters after their bowlers restricted Otago Sparks out for 193 for nine in another 46 overs-a-side match.
Hayley Jensen’s 65 and an undefeated 51 by Eden Carson wasn’t enough for Sparks to put up a tall score. They were only two out of four players to have entered double figures for the side. Anna Peterson and Jesse Prasad picked up two wickets each for Hearts while Bella Armstrong, who picked up the best List A figures by a Kiwi players across gender in the fifth round, picked up one as did Arlene Kelly and Holly Huddleston. It was the fifth loss in six outings for Sparks, who are at the bottom of the table.
Brief Scores:
Central Hinds 178 all out in 39.4 overs (Jess Watkin 38, Hannah Rowe 34; Emma Baker 2/19, Felicity Leydon-Davis 2/23) lost to Northern Spirit 180/2 in 35.2 overs (Katie Gurrey 101*) by eight wickets via DLS method.
Otago Sparks 193/9 in 46 overs (Hayley Jensen 65, Eden Carson 51*; Anna Peterson 2/27, Jesse Prasad 2/42) lost to Auckland Hearts 198/2 in 33.2 overs (Lauren Down 88*, Saachi Shahri 53; Emma Black 2/38) by eight wickets via DLS method.
Wellington Blaze versus Canterbury Magicians – Match abandoned due to rain.