Auckland top the table at Women's Development Tournament

After three rounds of 50-over matches the National Women’s Development Tournament switched format to Twenty20 cricket with two full rounds competed today.

Central Districts and Auckland were victorious in both their encounters while Canterbury and Wellington registered one win each.

Auckland top the Twenty20 table and have emerged as overall leaders with points carrying over from the 50-over matches. A further two rounds of Twenty20 will be played tomorrow with one final round scheduled for Tuesday.

Auckland v Otago
Bert Sutcliffe Oval

Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match956/scorecard.aspx

Auckland smashed 177 for five after being put into bat by Otago who could only manage 98 for eight in reply. The huge total was set up by Maddie Green who blasted nine boundaries in her 68 off 47 balls. Extras cost Otago dearly with 40 runs conceded including 26 wide deliveries. Otago’s Victoria Abbott returned respectable figures of two for 24.

The run chase never got going for Otago with Auckland’s Lily Milivai ripping through the top order to finish with impressive figures of four for 18 off her four overs.

Canterbury v Wellington
Lincoln Green

Full scorecards - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match957/scorecard.aspx

Wellington were hamstrung by some poor running by the top order after they elected to bat, with three of their first four batters falling to run-outs. A steady 27 by Allex Evans helped revive the innings and a quick 23 off 17 balls by Rachel Chin pushed them through to 116 for nine. Canterbury’s Hayley Jensen was the most impressive, taking two wickets and going for just 10 runs from her four overs.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Canterbury who slumped to 77 for five before a match winning partnership of 40 off 29 deliveries between Hanna Maufau (27*) and Hannah Murdoch (12*) sealed the five wicket win. Frances Kean was the pick of the Wellington attack with two for 17.

Northern Districts v Central Districts
Lincoln No. 3

Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match955/scorecard.aspx

A 101 run third wicket partnership between Central Districts batsmen Kelly Rangi and Sony Thompson helped them to 133 for four and ultimately set up the 21 run win over Northern Districts. They were in trouble at 20 for 2 after being put into bat before the pair came together. Rangi hit an unbeaten 44 off 41 while Thompson top scored with 56 off 51 deliveries.

The Northern reply never gained traction with Central picking up regular wickets. A late 34 off 26 by number ten batter Brooke Kirkbride helped give the scorecard some respectability but they never seriously threatened the total. First change bowler Hannah Rowe was the best of the Central attack while Malorie Bartosh-Short chipped in with two for 14.

Central Districts v Canterbury
Bert Sutcliffe Oval

Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match962/scorecard.aspx

Central Districts racked up 162 for 4 after choosing to bat then bundled Canterbury out for 141 in 18.1 overs to record a 21 run win and end the day unbeaten. Central opener Michelle Frey carried her bat to finish with the top score of 58 off 52 balls. The other key contributors were Jessie Bennett (37) and Kelly Rangi (32) who both had a strike-rate of better than a run-a-ball. Canterbury’s new ball bowler Hanna Maufau took two for 25.

A superb 57 off 39 by middle order batter Jess Hastings made a real game of it but she lacked any genuine support from the rest of the Canterbury line up. All-rounder Sony Thompson was the pick of the Central bowlers taking four for 12 off 3.1 overs.

Auckland v Northern Districts
Lincoln No.3

Full Scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match961/scorecard.aspx

Auckland continued their dominant form, this time running past Northern Districts by eight wickets to make it two from two for the day. Northern saw out their 20 overs but could only muster 88 runs with Felicity Leydon-Davis top scoring with 34.

The Auckland reply was anchored by opener Sarah Carnachan who struck 30 not out while Maddie Green continued her fine form with 25.

Wellington v Otago
Lincoln Green

Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match963/scorecard.aspx

Renee Moffitt hit a brilliant unbeaten half-century after Wellington won the toss and elected to bat, helping her team through to 152 for three. The Wellington bowlers then restricted Otago to 140 to hand them a 12 run win. Wellington batter Caitlin Eves made 29 but it was Moffitt’s 81 off 73 that included 14 boundaries that made the difference.

In reply, Otago good off to a handy start with opener Kylie Crowley making 34 at the top of the innings and Victoria Abbott lashing 39 off 29 down the order but more was required from the rest of the specialist batsmen if they were to threaten the total. Moffitt completed a good all-round match by taking two for 28 with the ball while Tash Narasy returned Wellington’s best figures with two for 18 off four overs.

Schedule and scorecards - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/schedule/Womens-Development/101/series.aspx