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Kerr sisters and Leigh Kasperek inspire Wellington Blaze to a 45-run win against Canterbury Magicians

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Women's CricZone Staff
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Kerr sisters and Leigh Kasperek inspire Wellington Blaze to a 45-run win against Canterbury Magicians

Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek © Getty Images

Wellington Blaze continued their unbeaten run as they beat Canterbury Magicians by 45 runs at Basin Reserve, Wellington in the Super Smash game on Sunday (December 19). Amelia Kerr starred with the bat as Blaze beat the Magicians for the second time in this tournament, following up from their 44 run win last month in Christchurch. 

Earlier in the day, Wellington won the toss and elected to bat first. Georgia Plimmer was dismissed early inside the powerplay for just 11 runs, but a second wicket partnership between opener Rebecca Burns and Amelia Kerr helped stabilize things. The 75-run stand from 55 balls proved to be a game changing one for Blaze. 

Burns was eventually dismissed for a well-made 38-ball 32. Skipper Maddy Green was dismissed cheaply while Amelia went on to get a half-century, before being dismissed for 50 off 41. Three quick wickets meant that Jess Kerr and Leigh Kasperek were in the middle for the last four overs. The duo added 37 runs at the death taking their team total’s to 142 for four. Jess managed 20 off 15 deliveries while Kasperek scored 15 off 12. 

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

In reply, Canterbury had a horrible start with the bat. Menaka Singh got the wicket of Natalie Cox with the very first ball of the runchase while Jess got into the action soon picking up the scalps of Amy Satterthwaite and Jacinta Savage inside the powerplay. This meant Canterbury was struggling at 14 for 3 at the end of the first six overs and never really recovered from that.

Batting at no. 3, Frances Mackay held one end but wickets kept tumbling from the other. On top of that, the increasing required rate didn’t help as they kept falling behind with every ball. Kasperek bowled a fantastic spell as well, picking three wickets, that of Abigale Gerken (4 runs), Lea Tahuhu (15 runs) and Allie Mace-Cochrane (duck), in the middle overs to further cause issues.

Mackay managed to get to her fifty though and eventually stayed unbeaten for her 55 run knock from 47 balls. Her team finished on 97 for seven in their 20 overs, falling short by plenty. Apart from Kasperek’s three-wicket haul, Singh’s figures of 4-2-7-1 was quite incredible while Jess’ 2 for 17 from four overs also played a massive part in the win. 

Brief scores:

Wellington Blaze 142/4 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 50; Frances Mackay 1/23, Sarah Asmussen 1/23) beat Canterbury Magicians 97/7 in 20 overs (Mackay 55; Leigh Kasperek 3/21) by 45 runs. 
New Zealand Amelia Kerr Leigh Kasperek Jess Kerr Super Smash 2021-22
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