2022/23 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 7
Saturday, 18 February 2023
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
OTAGO SPARKS lost to AUCKLAND HEARTS by 65 runs
Bonus point victory
Selected milestones
Holly Huddleston: first Auckland Hearts hat-trick (either white-ball format)
Katie Perkins: fourth List A century (all for Hearts)
Katie Perkins: List A career best 113 not out
All images: PHOTOSPORT
It was veterans' day at a sunny Uni Oval as Holly Huddleston took the Auckland Hearts' first ever hat-trick in either white-ball format, and Katie Perkins hit her highest Hallyburton Johnstone Shield century to stun the defending champs on their home turf.
The Hearts were hunting for their first win of the season, and they got it in brilliantly memorable style thanks to Huddleston's heroics with the ball.
Not only was it the first hat for the Hearts, but it was just the sixth List A hat-trick in New Zealand women's Domestic one-day history.
A much needed boost for the bottom of the table Hearts, that started when young captain Prue Catton elected to bat, and 129-match veteran Perkins obliged with the fourth century of her one-day career.
Top-scoring with an unbeaten 113* off 123 balls, it was her career best, embroidered with 10 boundaries.
Huddleston added a quick, unbeaten 49* (38 balls) at the death in a strong Hearts total of 308/5, which was the third highest total in the team's history as they made full use of the fast conditions in the south this summer.
The former WHITE FERN had an excellent all-round day as she chipped out 4-49 off her nine overs with the ball that included the special hat-trick.
As we mentioned, this was just the sixth hat-trick in women's Domestic one-day history in New Zealand (including one hat-trick for the short-lived, long defunct North Shore association), Huddleston removing Emma Black (bowled for one at 224/6), Fran Wilson (caught by Bree Illing for no score) and Gemma Adams (caught by Bella Armstrong for no score) with the final three balls of the 43rd over.
With just two further wickets required for victory, the Hearts went on to win by 65 runs.
The Sparks had had a sniff, but had suddenly faded to 243 all out - an unbeaten 78* from Caitlin Blakely their top score, with Blakely left stranded after running out of partners in a rush.
Still bottom of the table, the Hearts had snaffled the only bonus-point victory of the day, celebrating their first win in the seventh of the 10 rounds. What a day it was.
