The Women's Super Smash has seen seven matches so far this season. The Otago Sparks are currently in the first place, having won three games in a row for a total of six points. The Wellington Blaze, who have won two of their first two games, are in second place in the standings. The Canterbury Magicians and Auckland Hearts are in third and fourth place, respectively. The Magicians have played two games, winning one and losing the other. The Hearts, on the other hand, won the solitary game played with two points in their kitty. The Central Hinds have lost all three games so far and are currently in fifth place. Lastly, the Northern Braves are placed at the bottom, having suffered three losses in three matches.
The Magicians and the Blaze played the first match of the Women's Super Smash. By defeating the Magicians by 44 runs, the Blaze emerged victorious. The Blaze put up 145/6 in their 20 overs, thanks to Amelia Kerr's 71(45). Frances Mackay took three wickets for the Magicians in that game. The Magicians were skittled out for just 101 in 19 overs, as Amelia Kerr claimed four wickets for 12 runs. Her all-around performance led to a comfortable victory.
In the second match, the Central Hinds took on the Otago Sparks as the latter won by eight runs. With the help of a superb knock from Suzie Bates, Otago posted 134/6 in 20 overs. She registered a score of 64 which came off just 52 deliveries. Even though Jess Watkin and Georgia Atkinson both scored thirties, it wasn't enough to get Hinds over the line, as they were dismissed for 126 in 20 overs. The Sparks got off to a winning start thanks to Hayley Jensen's four wickets and Sophie Oldershaw's three wickets.
The Northern Braves played the Otago Sparks in the third encounter as the Sparks defeated the Braves by 61 runs. Suzie Bates scored back to back fifties in the tournament as the Sparks posted 154/5 in 20 overs. She top-scored for them with 76(59). The Braves were haunted in the chase by the regular fall of wickets as they ended up just scoring 93/8 in 20 overs. No batter scored briskly enough for them to get closer to the target. Emma Black and Molly Loe took 2 wickets each for the Sparks.
The fourth encounter was between the Central Hinds and the Wellington Blaze. The Blaze batted first and scored 144/4 in 20 overs. Amelia Kerr top-scored for them with 62(49) while Leigh Kasperek was unbeaten on 60(43). During the chase, the Hinds were bundled out for just 79 runs in 18 overs. Maneka Singh and Caitlin King both starred with the ball as they took 3 wickets each as the Blaze won by 65 runs.
The Canterbury Magicians faced the Central Hinds in the fifth match. The Magicians won it with 6 wickets in hand and a ball to spare. The Hinds won the toss and opted to bat, in the end, managed to put 137/7 on the board as Natalie Dodd scored 52(40). The chase was anchored by Natalie Cox 63(53)* but if Lea Tahuhu hadn't played that brilliant innings of unbeaten 39 runs from just 16 balls, which contained 3 sixes and a four, they would have lost it.
The sixth match of the tournament was between the Otago Sparks and the Northern Braves. The Braves scored 135/4 in 20 overs. Kate Anderson anchored the innings for the Braves as she scored 52(49). In the chase it was Polly Inglis and Kate Ebrahim who got crucial thirties to get the team over the line by wickets with two balls to spare. Nensi Patel took three wickets for the Braves.
The Northern Braves came up against the Auckland Hearts in the seventh match of the women’s super smash as the Hearts won it by a comfortable margin of 48 runs. After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Hearts scored 142/5 in 20 overs with the help of a fine fifty from Holly Huddleston. There was no significant contribution for the Braves in the chase as they ended up scoring just 94/7 in 20 overs. Ariene Nora Kelly clinched three wickets for the Hearts in that game.
Amelia Kerr has taken the most wickets thus far, with five wickets to her name. Meanwhile, Suzie Bates has the most runs in the tournament so far, with 156 runs in her tally. With three sixes to her name, Holly Huddleston has the most sixes in the tournament so far.