Hutt District women are Maureen Peters T20 champions once again, defeating Wellington Collegians women by four wickets in a final over thriller at Anderson Park yesterday.
After losing the toss and asked to bat first, Collegians got off to a solid start, openers Florence Marshall and captain Nicole Baird putting on 56 for the first wicket before Marshall was caught behind for 16 by Sophie Telfer.
Amanda Cooper and Baird fell shortly afterwards as Telfer and fellow Hutt bowler Bethany Trethewey made in-roads into the Collegians top order.
At 66/3 after 13 overs the Collegians batters needed to up the run-rate and Wellington Blaze allrounder Beth Molony did so; hitting a quickfire 42 off 24 balls to lead her side to a defendable total with 127 on the board.
The Hutt chase got off to the worst possible start with captain Liv Boivin and fellow opener Christine Blunden falling in the first two overs to leave the defending champions reeling at 9/2.
Emma Austin came in at three for Hutt and steadied proceedings with a careful middle order knock alongside Bethany Trethewey (17).
Trethewey was out caught in the seventh over and Austin eventually fell for 37 in the fourteenth and with 40 still required from the final six overs it was anyone’s game.
Hutt’s Sophie Telfer was still there though and her 45 from 36 balls would eventually be a match-winner.
The right-hander navigated the middle overs well, but tight Collegians bowling at the death meant Hutt went into the final over still needing 14 to win.
Telfer maintained the strike in the final over and turned the momentum back in her side’s favour in the space of two deliveries.
She hit Abby Carr for a big six over mid-wicket off the second ball of the over and then a hit a wonderfully timed four straight down the ground off the next delivery to take Hutt just two runs from victory.
A leg-bye off the fourth ball tied the scores, but confusion in the middle saw Alanah Golidngham run-out off the fifth delivery meaning the scores were tied with one ball to go.
In an attempt to cut off the single, Collegians captain Nicole Baird brought the field up, but Telfer backed herself at the death and hit the final delivery over deep mid-wicket for four to secure victory for her side and ensure Hutt District lifted the Maureen Peters trophy once again.
Wellington Collegians 127/6 (Molony 42, Baird 37, Trethewey 2-25) lost to Hutt District 131/6 (Telfer 45*, Austin 37, Cooper 3-19) by four wickets
Article added: Monday 29 March 2021
