At Molyneux Park, Alexandra: Canterbury Magicians 145-7 from 20 overs (Frankie Mackay 51 from 46 balls, Kate Anderson 43 from 32) beat the Otago Sparks 69 all out in 14.4 overs (Suzie Bates 33 from 35 balls; Lea Tahuhu 3-10 from 3 overs, Sarah Asmussen 3-16 from 4) by 76 runs. Click here for full scoreboard
Kate Anderson probably thought she’d done her best work with the bat to guide the Magicians to victory.
But the Canterbury opener also produced a great sprawling catch to end any hopes of an Otago Sparks fightback, dismissing White Ferns star Suzie Bates as the visitors romped to a 76-run win in the women’s Super Smash game in Alexandra.
Anderson (43) and Frankie Mackay (51) put on 72 for the first wicket for the Magicians to set them up for a challenging total.
Then, as Bates played a sole hand in what was already looking a forlorn chase, Anderson came in from the midwicket boundary and dived forward low to her left to haul in a one-handed catch off Lea Tahuhu.
On a used Molyneux Park wicket, the Sparks bowlers failed to find a testing line and length from the outset as Anderson in particular set the tone with her bold approach.
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Otago Sparks’ Olivia Gain is bowled by Canterbury Magicians’ Fatima Sana during their Super Smash T20 match at Alexandra’s Molyneux Park.
The early runs came almost exclusively through the leg-side, featuring a lot of bottom-hand hitting, as Anderson crunched seven fours, while Mackay was happy to anchor the innings.
Otago didn’t help their cause with some poor fielding, and then a string of bad decisions running between the wickets further hampered them.
Tahuhu starred at either end of proceedings with the ball, while slow bowler Sarah Asmussen also put Otago in a spin with 3-16 from her four overs.
Big moment
Bates had got to 33, and while she’d already seen six batting partners depart, would still have given herself a shot at hitting her side home, until Tahuhu and Anderson combined.
Best with the bat
Anderson has yet to establish herself in the White Ferns XI, but her ability to hit over the infield and to find the boundary would be a boon if she can translate domestic form to the international arena.
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Canterbury Magicians’ Kate Anderson hits out during their Super Smash T20 match against the Otago Sparks at Alexandra’s Molyneux Park.
Best with the ball
Tahuhu got Canterbury’s defence off to a super start with a wicket from her third ball, and then ensured there would be no late dramatics by removing Bates and Eden Carson in successive balls.
Big picture
With the recent additions of Pakistan star allrounder Fatima Sana and Australian left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, the Magicians should continue to climb the table and again contend for the title.
