2023/24 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 8
Sunday, 4 February 2024
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
AUCKLAND HEARTS beat CANTERBURY MAGICIANS by 5 wickets
Auckland Hearts: 4 points
Canterbury Magicians: 0 points
Selected milestones
- Cate Pedersen: Career best List A score (43)
- Izzy Gaze: Career best List A score (49)
Despite an ultimately strong Canterbury effort with the bat, the Auckland Hearts made it two out of two on a big weekend against the Canterbury Magicians in Christchurch - racing up the tight HBJ points table, into the top two and with a two-point lead over the Otago Sparks (in third) with just two rounds to go.
The Hearts did it in style on the Sunday round, chasing down a respectable 260/8 from their hosts - in just the 47th over, and just five wickets down.
Again it was runs at the top that secured their charge, Shahri in the runs again with her fluent 75 off just 61 balls, forming a 114-run opening partnership for Hinds-turned-Heart Cate Pedersen, who reached her List A career best 43.
When Sarah Asmussen finally dismissed Shahri in the 19th over, Hearts captain Maddy Green had a great platform already, and added a further 41 with Pedersen before the young opener's dismissal at the halfway mark of the chase.
By then, the Hearts needed just a further 106 runs, and with Izzy Gaze's unbeaten 49 at almost a run-a-ball clip, nothing was going to stop Green from reaching that target, as the Hearts' top player this summer cruised to an unbeaten 70* and brought home the five-wicket victory in the 47th with her fifth boundary.
Earlier, the Magicians had elected to bat, and captain Frankie Mackay made sure it was a sound option after producing 71 herself at the top.
Molly Penfold had broken through early, but Mackay and Kate Anderson ( a quick 38) again formed a good partnership, putting on 65 for the second wicket.
But Josie Penfold broke it in the 15th over, and that triggered a clump of wickets at a key time.
McKay was forced to play the anchor role, before departing herself to Fran Jonas at 167/7 in the 39th. Green bowled herself and collected another wicket, but not before Missy Banks had added a valuable hand of 35 while Lea Tahuhu simply came in and did Lea Tahuhu things, slamming an unbeaten 67* off just 42 balls.
