Auckland clean up at National Women's Development Tournament

Auckland has won the National Women’s Development Tournament for the second year in a row. The defending champions were barely challenged over the five days and brushed aside Canterbury earlier today to go through the 50-over tournament at Ilam Fields in Christchurch unbeaten.

In a day dominated by bowlers, the Wellington team managed to put on 225 and record an impressive 54-run win over Central Districts to move into third spot with Central remaining in second place. Canterbury’s second loss meant they ended fourth.

It was a forgettable tournament for winless Otago, with Northern Districts sneaking past them to finish fifth.

Auckland v Canterbury

Toss: Auckland won the toss and elected to field
Canterbury 84 (Kendal 26; Taylor 2/26, McNeill 2/7) lost to
Auckland 85/4 (Taylor 37; Hastings 2/21)

Melissa Taylor starred with the bat and ball as Auckland beat Canterbury by six wickets in their final match of the tournament. Auckland recorded comfortable victories over all other team to finish the tournament with the maximum possible 25 points.

Taylor helped restrict Canterbury to a modest 84, and then top scored with 37 as Auckland romped home with more than 32 overs so spare. Roz McNeil was also in good from taking two wickets while only conceding seven runs.

For Canterbury, batsman Meg Kendal fought hard with 26 runs while bowler Jessica Hastings capped off a good tournament with two for 21.

Wellington v Central Districts

Toss: Wellington won the toss and elected to bat
Wellington 225/8 (Eves 68, Bedford 39no; Rangi 2/18, Rangnekar 2/28) beat
Central Districts 171 (Davies 46, Rangi 37; Moffitt 3/32, Bennett 2/29)

Wellington beat the fancied Central Districts team by 54 runs to leap-frog Canterbury into third spot and finish only one point behind Central who ended up in second place. Batting first, Wellington put on a useful 225 thanks to a fine 68 from Caitlin Eves and an unbeaten 39 from Hannah Bedford.

Central were never in the hunt despite a fighting 46 from Sophie Davies and 37 from all rounder Kelly Rangi and were all out in 46 overs. Renee Moffitt was the pick of the Wellington bowling attack with three for 32.

Northern Districts v Otago

Toss: Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field
Otago 133 (Foote 29; Kirkbride 3/8, Mulcahy 2/10) lost to
Northern Districts 134/8 (Arndt 41, Forster 40; Foote 2/14, Osborne 2/21)

Northern Districts completed a narrow two-wicket win over Otago in the battle for the wooden spoon. Batting first, Otago made a below par 133 with extras accounting for 43 of those runs. Otago’s best player of the tournament, Lucy Foote, top scored with 29 and contributed the best bowling figures of two for 14.

Heidi Arndt (41) and Hilary Forster (40) set up the run chase for Northern but it wasn’t all smooth sailing as a middle order collapse threatened to derail the run chase, but Northern managed to scrape through in the end.

Points and final standings:

Auckland – 25
Central Districts – 15
Wellington – 14
Canterbury – 13
Northern Districts – 4
Otago – 0