Bernadine Bezuidenhout back to her dangerous best after having taken almost two years away from the game:
Two days of Hallyburton Johnstone Shield cricket in Whangarei have produced the first two centuries of the women’s NZC Domestic summer, whilst in Rangiora, the Canterbury Magicians have suffered a record drubbing today.
Yesterday, Kate Ebrahim raised the bat for the Otago Sparks at Cobham Oval, and today a rejuvenated Bernadine Bezuidenhout counterpunched in Round Two for Northern Districts with a quick 101 off 95 balls, backing up her unbeaten 62* on Saturday in Round One.
However, it was another century posted in vain, scored in a race against time impending heavy rain. The Sunday one-dayer would be called off without a second innings chase possible, the points shared between the teams.
Nevertheless, it was time enough for 29-year-old former international Bezuidenhout to announce that she is fighting fit again, back to her dangerous best after having taken almost two years away from the game to focus on her recovery from RED-S syndrome.
Bezuidenhout and Caitlin Gurrey had shared an impressive 164-run stand for the first wicket, just 24 runs shy of the Northern Districts first wicket record.
Today’s rematch between the Central Hinds and Auckland Hearts was thwarted by heavy rain overnight in New Plymouth – no toss made, whilst in Rangiora, hosts the Canterbury Magicians also endured a miserable second round. However, their pain was attributable to performance, rather than weather.
The new-look Magicians were without influential captain and spearhead Frankie Mackay in the second innings (unable to bat after an injury), and already without regular superstar Amy Satterthwaite (coaching in the WBBL).
They went on to suffer the most dramatic defeat in their one-day history at the hands of a ruthless Wellington Blaze pack.
In a match reduced to 44 overs by the weather, the Blaze had posted 178/9 at Mainpower Oval, after having been sent in by the Magicians.
But the Magicians would get nowhere near their target of 179, bowled out for just 51 with only 19.2 of the 44 overs required by the visitors.
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It was Canterbury’s lowest ever List A one-day total, rewriting the previous Canterbury record of 56 scored against South Australia in Adelaide in 1976, and their previous lowest NZC Domestic total of 63 scored against the Blaze at Karori Park in the 2018/19 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
Only two batters broke into double digits and a chaotic 19th over saw the loss of four quick wickets. Caitlin King trapped Jacinta Savage and Lea Tahuhu off the first two balls, dotting down for the third. Non-striker Izzy Sharp was run out off the fourth delivery, and King took her third wicket next ball with Gabby Sullivan bowled for a golden duck.
King finished with an outstanding return of 3-1 off her solitary over, Blaze captain Dee Doughty finishing off the innings a few balls later for her own tidy haul of 2-8 off 2.2 overs. Spinner Nicole Baird meabwhile claimed a maiden wicket on debut.
