WHITE FERNS duo propel Blaze to first-up win

Rachel Priest of the Wellington Blaze and Maddy Green of the Wellington Blaze during the Dream11 Super Smash T20 Cricket Match, Otago Sparks v Wellington Blaze at Lincoln Green, Lincoln, New Zealand, 13th December 2019.Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

A rapid partnership of 141 runs between the WHITE FERNS pair of Rachel Priest and Maddy Green powered the Wellington Blaze to a 66-run victory over the Otago Sparks.

It was the Sparks who made the ideal start, with Emma Black removing WBBL standout Sophie Devine and Rebecca Burns quickly, to reduce the Blaze to 6-2.

Undeterred by the loss of early wickets, Priest and Green peppered the boundary and both reached destructive half-centuries.

By the time Green (63 off 36) and Priest (76 off 48) were back in the hut, the Blaze had passed 150 with more than four overs remaining. Late wickets stalled the momentum slightly but the Blaze still finished with a daunting 189-7.

After missing out with the bat, Sophie Devine made an immediate impact with the ball, removing Millie Cowan in the first over of the Sparks' reply.

Suzie Bates and Katey Martin got the scoreboard moving with a 62-run partnership for the second wicket before Amelia Kerr removed both in the same over to stall the chase at 63-3.  When Hayley Jensen fell to Jess Kerr with the score unchanged, the match was effectively out of reach. 

The Blaze continued to pick up wickets in the latter stages and the Sparks finished at 123-9.

Both teams have two more games this weekend in a busy start to their Dream11 Super Smash seasons.


Article added: Saturday 14 December 2019