A tense chase, a roaring crowd at Hagley Oval, and a captain who stood tall under pressure, Wellington Blaze once again proved why they are the most dominant force in New Zealand women’s domestic cricket. Wellington Blaze edged past Auckland Hearts in a thrilling Super Smash women’s final on Friday, chasing down 147 with just one ball remaining to lift their 10th title and complete their second three-peat in that remarkable run.
At the heart of the victory was skipper Jess Kerr, who produced a nerveless finish in the final over. Needing 16 runs off the last six balls, Kerr unleashed two towering sixes and a crisp boundary, finishing unbeaten on 46 to steer the Blaze to a five-wicket win.
The chase had been set up earlier by opener Rebecca Burns, who played with authority at the top of the order. Burns struck a fluent 55 off 41 balls, sharing a 66-run opening stand with Georgia Plimmer (28 off 27) to give Wellington Blaze early momentum.
However, Auckland fought back strongly through the middle overs. The dismissals of Burns and Plimmer slowed the scoring rate, and the Blaze briefly lost their way as Xara Jetly and Hannah Francis departed cheaply. Kerr, batting at No.3, struggled to rotate the strike during this phase, adding to the tension.
With the asking rate climbing, Kerr found support from Jess McFadyen (11), and the pair dragged Wellington back into contention late in the innings. They entered the final over still needing 16, with Brook Halliday handed the responsibility of defending the total.
Kerr struck a six off the second delivery to swing momentum, but McFadyen was run out on the next ball attempting a second run. Unfazed, Kerr took control, launching another six and then driving elegantly through cover to seal the championship, sparking jubilant celebrations as her teammates rushed onto the field.
Earlier, Auckland Hearts posted a competitive 146/5 after being sent in. Their top order laid a solid foundation, with Izzy Gaze and Brook Halliday scoring 31 apiece, while captain Maddy Green contributed 29. For Wellington, Xara Jetly impressed with the ball, returning figures of 2/27.
Despite the loss, Molly Penfold stood out for Auckland with a disciplined spell of 2/14 from four overs, keeping the contest alive until the very end. In the end, though, Wellington Blaze’s experience and composure under pressure once again shone through, reaffirming their status as the benchmark team of the Super Smash era.
