HBJ Shield Set to Resume, Isla McKenzie Named in First Blaze Squad

It’s crunch time in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one day competition as the Wellington Blaze look to back up their Super Smash win in the longer format as they welcome the Canterbury Magicians to town.

Currently sitting third on the table in a closely contested competition, the Blaze will require a top-2 spot to qualify for the Grand Final, set to be played in Dunedin.

17-year-old Isla McKenzie is in line for a potential Blaze debut this weekend, following her strong form in both the U17 and U19 tournaments this season. She has been training with the team all season and looks to be an asset with both her pace bowling and batting.

McKenzie is the reigning Club Cricketer of the Year in the Women’s Premier Grade, awarded on the back of a great 2023/24 summer for North City which included a 7/16 haul.

The Blaze will be without some regular contributors this weekend, with Melie Kerr overseas at the WPL, and frontline bowlers Xara Jetly and Leigh Kasperek still rehabbing their hand injuries. Georgia Plimmer is also unavailable following a stress fracture injury last year.

Watch our HBJ Shield Rounds 7 & 8 matches from 10:30am on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9th February at the Cello Basin Reserve or live on NZC’s YouTube channel.

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The Wellington Blaze for Rounds 7 & 8 of the HBJ Shield are:

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Wellington Blaze

Rebecca Burns (c)

Nicole Baird

Rachel Bryant

Natasha Codyre

Hannah Francis

Antonia Hamilton (Sunday only)

Jess Kerr

Caitlin King

Sam Mackinder

Jess McFadyen

Isla McKenzie*

Gemma Sims

Phoenix Williams

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