She's back! WHITE FERNS and Wellington Blaze star Melie Kerr had opened her big summer in style with a devastating 5-40 to inflict a first-up loss on defending Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champions the Canterbury Magicians.
Kerr got the big wicket of fellow WHITE FERNS star Amy Satterthwaite in the 41st over to open the gate to a 39-run victory for the visitors in Rangiora - who will meet the capital raiders again tomorrow at the same venue in Round Two.
Captaining the Magicians in Frankie Mackay's absence, Satterthwaite had been leading the recovery for her side who were in early strife at 34/2. She top-scored, having reached 87 before Kerr got one through her defences.
Spinner Kerr was too good for the tail, picking up a further two wickets to finish with her bag - just the second 5fa of her List A career, and first for Wellington Blaze, with her career best 5-17 having been for the WHITE FERNS.
The win wasn't good enough for a bonus point for the Blaze, but there were plenty of encouraging statistics for the WHITE FERNS selectors with the sizzling early form on display both this and last weekend, in their ICC Women's World Cup season.
Earlier, Blaze captain, number four and WHITE FERN Maddy Green had top-scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 87* off just 75 balls.
Green's decision to bat first was rewarded with a strong total of 276/8, the Magicians coming up short in reply at 228/9 in their 50 overs.
Article added: Wednesday 10 November 2021
