Auckland the team to beat after third win

Auckland are the form team, recording their third crushing victory of the National Women’s Development Tournament and sending a signal to the others that they are the team to beat. Central Districts are the other unbeaten team with the two teams meeting tomorrow.

Canterbury slumped to their first defeat with Wellington notching up their first win. Central Districts all-rounder Esther Lanser is proving to be the player of the tournament, averaging over 50 and taking eight wickets so far.

Auckland v Northern Districts

Toss: Auckland won the toss and elected to field
Northern Districts 41 (Kirkbride 9; Guy 3/18, Preet 2/2, Cooke 2/5) lost to
Auckland 52/1 (Hickson 17, Glynn 28 n.o.)

Auckland stormed to their third massive win in the National Women’s Development Tournament, beating Northern Districts by nine wickets. Northern only managed to post 51 with no batsmen reaching double figures and extras accounting for 18 runs. Georgia Guy was the best of the Auckland attack with three for 18 with Katie Glynn and Maddie Cooke taking two apiece.

Auckland only required 13 of their possible 50 overs to knock off the total with Glynn backing up her quality bowling with an unbeaten 28.

Central District v Canterbury

Toss: Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat
Central Districts 180 (Lanser 34, Frey 58, Gregory 26 n.o., Nesbitt 26; Hastings 2/23, Nicholas 2/29) beat
Canterbury 143 (Burns 23 n.o., Hastings 23; Lanser 4/23, Gregory 2/23)

Central District proved that they are going to be hard to beat after fiercely defending 180 to beat Canterbury by 37 runs. The total was largely thanks to a superb 58 from Michelle Frey who was called upon to hold the innings together. Esther Lanser once again featured with the bat, contributing 34.

Canterbury were cruising in reply but three unnecessary run outs from the top order and a rash shot from Jessica Hastings (23) exposed the tail. Lanser didn’t need a second invitation ripping through the lower order to finish with four for 23.

Wellington v Otago

Toss: Otago won the toss and elected to bat
Wellington 240/7 (Eves 69, Mizzi 41, McFadyen 36, Bennett 34; Abbot 3/33) beat
Otago 180 (Foote 47, Crowley 25; Narasy 4/41, Bennett 2/33, Webster 2/27)

Wellington bounced back from yesterday’s heavy loss with a comfortable 50 run win over Otago. The useful total of 230 was set up by a classy 69 from Caitlin Eves and was supported by Mizzi (41), McFadyen (36), Bennett (34). Otago bowler Victoria Abbot was accurate and economical with three for 33.

For Otago, Lucy Foote made 47 and Kylie Crowley 25 but they never really threatened the total.