All-round Amelia Kerr helps Wellington Blaze make it two in two against Canterbury Magicians

another five-wicket haul to help Wellington Blaze beat the defending champions Canterbury Magicians for the second day in a row in the HBJ Shield. Amy Satterthwaite’s brilliant 96 went in vain as Blaze registered a win by two wickets on Sunday (November 7) at Rangiora.

After opting to bat first against the Blaze, Magicians were rocked early when Emma Kench was bowled for a golden duck by Maneka Singh. Satterthwaite joined captain Frances Mackay and the pair added 33 for the second wicket. After Mackay was caught by Jessica McFadyen giving Singh her second wicket, Kerr took charge of the bowling innings sending Jacinta Savage and Abigale Gerken back to the hut in the 17th over.

Kerr came back in the 20th over to end the promising partnership of 68 runs between Satterthwaite and Kirsty Nation (34). Satterthwaite, playing in her 301st List A game, backed her 87 from the previous encounter with another brilliant innings of 96. She missed out on her well-deserved eighth century by four runs as she was bowled by Leigh Kasperek, ending the Magicians innings for 207.

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In reply, Rebecca Burns and McFadyen got off to a steady start for the Blaze. Savage trapped Burns in front in the sixth over which paired Kerr with McFadyen as the pair took the home side past 50. Kerr scored 41 off 58 balls to keep Blaze in the contest and put a partnership of 52 runs with captain Maddy Green. Sarah Asmussen dismissed Kerr in the 26th over as captain Mackay took a catch.

Georgia Plimmer (29), Thamsyn Newton (29), and Kasperek (30*) contributed in the middle order to see Blaze closer to the target. Satterthwaite gave them a little scare at the end with three wickets in an over, but Kasperek kept her calm to make two-in-two against the defending champions. Apart from Satterthwaite's three, Mackay took two wickets for the Magicians.

Brief Scores: Canterbury Magicians 207/10 in 43.1 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 96, Kirsty Nation 34; Amelia Kerr 5/36) lost to Wellington Blaze 208/8 in 49 overs (Amelia Kerr 41, Light Kasperek 30*; Amy Satterthwaite 3/38) by two wickets.