Amelia Kerr helps Blaze to thump Magicians in Super Smash opener

Super Smash by 44 runs at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday (November 26).

Magicians captain Frances Mackay won the toss and invited Blaze to bat first with Georgia Plimmer attacking Jessica Simmons for 16 runs in her first over. Melissa Banks sent Rebecca Burns early, but that just paired Plimmer with Kerr and they took their side to 47 for one by the end of the power play.

Mackay brought herself to bowl after the power play and immediately broke the dangerous-looking partnership as Plimmer was caught by Banks for 34. In the very next over, Sarah Asmussen caught and bowled captain Maddy Green to put pressure on Blaze. Kerr handled the pressure well and brought up her half-century off 37 balls with a four in the 15th over.

Amelia Ker © Getty Images/ Women's CricZone

Leigh Kasperek supported Kerr with 28 off 26 balls, including three fours. Mackay took two wickets in as many balls and ended up with a three-wicket haul for herself. Kerr was finally dismissed in the last over of the innings by Amy Satterthwaite for 71 as Blaze scored 145 for six.

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In reply, Maneka Singh gave Blaze the perfect start when she bowled Abigale Gerken for a duck in the first over. The task in hand got even more tricky for the defending champions when Natalie Cox was sent back to the pavilion by Xara Jetly for 7. The experienced duo of Satterthwaite and Mackay then tried to steady the chase. Kerr broke the partnership whe Satterthwaite could not read a wrong’un and was bowled around the legs.

From the precarious position of 31 for three at the end of the seventh over, Mackay and Jacinta Savage added 37 runs for the fourth wicket to keep Magicians in the hunt. After Thamsyn Newton caught and bowled Savage for 17 in the 13th over, Magicians collapsed as they lost six wickets for just 32 runs. They were eventually bowled out for 101 with Mackay remaining unbeaten on 41. Kerr finished with incredible figures of four for 12 from her four overs.

Brief Scores: Wellington Blaze: 145/6 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 71, Georgia Plimmer 34; Frances Mackay 3/23) beat Canterbury Magicians 101 all out in 19 overs (Frances Mackay 41*, Jacinta Savage 17; Amelia Kerr 4/12) by 44 runs