Blaze Preseason Review – Long Weekend Taupō Tournament

Over the Labour Day long weekend, the Blaze took to the central North Island to take on the other three northern teams as a part of their preseason training. Taupō played host to three games over three days, in a weekend that proved to be successful for the Wellington-based side.

Saturday saw the team get their weekend underway with a T20 against the Northern Districts Women’s side, who batted first and posted 131/4 from their 20 overs. In response, Caitlin King led the chase with a handy 53, with training squad member Sam Mackinder hitting the last two balls of the game for boundaries as the Blaze snuck home for a win.

ND: 131/4

Blaze: 135/6

Blaze win by 4 wickets

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On Sunday, the longer form of the game was in the spotlight, as the Blaze took on the Auckland Sparks. The Sparks batted first, bowled out for 130 with Codyre, Jetly, and Bryant taking two wickets each. In response, the Blaze’s bats were tested, with 14-year-old Anvi Verma from Johnsonville Cricket Club top-scoring on 39, with contributions from Gemma Sims (30) and Hannah Francis (25). Another four-wicket win in the bag, all eyes shifted to Monday’s T20.

Auckland: 130 all out

Blaze: 134/6

Blaze win by 4 wickets

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Labour Day saw a thriller between the Central Hinds and the Blaze on the final day of the weekend’s cricket with the Blaze batting first, setting a strong 142/3 with strong contributions from both Gemma Sims (48*) and Caitlin King (45). Defending a decent total, the Hinds made the game a good one, coming within striking distance of the total. Finishing on 140/8, the difference was made on the defensive side, with strong fielding, death bowling, and some key runouts to boot, the Blaze secured another win.

Blaze: 142/3

Central Hinds: 140/8

Blaze win by 2 runs

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Ultimately finishing with three wins from three, the Blaze enjoyed a good weekend of preseason games in Taupō, with the weather playing its part in what turned out to be a full weekend of preparation for the season. With less than a month until the start of the HBJ Shield campaign, the Blaze are in good shape as the start of the domestic summer beckons.

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