Sophie Devine's rapid half-century led the Wellington Blaze to their third consecutive Super Smash title in a weather-reduced match at the Basin Reserve.

Scorecard

The newly appointed WHITE FERNS captain hit five sixes and brought her fifty up in just 22 balls as the Blaze posted an imposing 81-2 in their seven overs. The 4th over went for 21 runs and 18 came from the 6th over as Devine found the boundary at will.

Needing almost 12 runs an over to win, the Auckland HEARTS didn’t get going in reply, finishing on 45-5 to give the Blaze a 36-run win.

Persistent drizzle in Wellington delayed the start of the match for more than two hours, reducing the season decider to a seven-over contest.

Sent into bat, openers Devine and Rachel Priest got things moving with five boundaries in the first two overs, three to Priest and two to Devine.

Priest departed for 14 at the end of the third over and from there it was all Devine.

She blasted three sixes in a 20-run haul in the fourth over. Four more boundaries came in the following two overs, including a six to bring up a 22-ball fifty.

Her destructive knock was over a ball later, caught by Anna Peterson at mid-off to give Bella Armstrong (2-23 off two) her second wicket.

The Blaze won all 11 matches this season and have now been crowned Super Smash champions for three successive seasons.

The HEARTS’ chase was an uphill battle from the outset, needing 82 runs off 42 balls.

Boundaries were hard to come by for the visitors and they lost wickets regularly as the target became quickly out of reach.

Leigh Kasperek (2-4), Jess Kerr (1-7) and Deanna Doughty (1-16) took wickets, while a Melie Kerr direct hit had Katie Perkins run out.

Armstrong (13 off 8) top-scored for the HEARTS.

Article added: Monday 20 January 2020