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Hearts to face Sparks in HBJ Shield final

Izzy Gaze Auckland Hearts cricket
Izzy Gaze struck a quick-fire half-century to get the Auckland Hearts into the HBJ Shield final. PHOTO: DAVE LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY

The Auckland Hearts have grabbed the last berth in this weekend's Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final.


With two victories over the Canterbury Magicians, Auckland set up a meeting with the runaway top qualifier Otago Sparks for the national women's 50-over title at Dunedin's University of Otago Oval on Saturday (10.30am start).


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Heading into the final double-header, the Hearts trailed the Central Hinds by six points, needing two wins and some help to qualify.


They did their part with seven-run and eight-wicket victories over Canterbury at Christchurch's Hagley Oval, then the Sparks provided the assistance, handing Central 129-run and three-wicket losses in Dunedin.


White Ferns batter Maddy Green starred on Saturday, with a career-best 125 from 120 balls as the Hearts reached 269-7, then six different bowlers took wickets as the Magicians came up just short in their chase, despite opener Kate Anderson's 118 from 130 balls.


Anderson scored a half-century as Canterbury posted 167-3 in Sunday's rain-shortened match, before Auckland openers Saachi Shahri (80 not out from 85) and Izzy Gaze (54 from 32) put on 91 runs for the first wicket, setting the tone in a comfortable win.



Batting proved the Hinds' downfall, dismissed for just 154 and 124.


After the Sparks put up 283-6, thanks to Felicity Robertson's 110 from 148 and Polly inglis' 97 from 89, Central's reply never got going, with Chloe Deerness taking 3-33 from eight overs and Hayley Jensen Eden Carson taking two wickets each.


Poppy-Jay Watkins took 3-4 from 2.4 overs and Harriett Cuttance two wickets on Sunday, setting up an easy chase for the Sparks, who knocked off the target in just over 25 overs for their ninth victory in 10 matches.


In the final weekend's other matches, the Wellington Blaze and Northern Districts split their matches. Caitlin Gurrey scored 152 from 141 balls in ND's 49-run win on Saturday, while Jess Kerr guided the Blaze to a six-wicket win on Sunday with 104 not out from 112.

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