MARTY MELVILLE/PHOTOSPORT/Supplied
Wellington Blaze all-rounder Sophie Devine pipped Canterbury Magicians all-rounder Frankie Mackay to the MVP award on the back of a strong bowling display.
Wellington Blaze all-rounder Sophie Devine did just enough to claim the
Stuff MVP award in the final round of the Twenty20 Super Smash, but it wasn t enough to help her side advance straight to Saturday s grand final.
Devine took 4-21 with the ball as the Blaze dismissed the Auckland Hearts for 110 – enough to earn her a single MVP point – but only made six with the bat as they lost by seven runs, a result that set up a rematch in the elimination final on Thursday.
And thanks to an outstanding captain’s knock from Martin leading them to their highest score of the campaign – 153-6 – they duly went on with the job, to win by 42 runs, which instead consigned the Central Hinds to the spoon, with the Sparks finishing level on points with the Spirit, behind on net run rate. After being sent in, the Sparks made a slow start of it, at 27-1 after five overs, before Martin, at No 3, got things going in the final over of the powerplay. The right-hander, one day shy of her 36th birthday, welcomed off-spinner Eimear Richardson to the crease with disdain, sending her first ball back over her head for six, in an over which went for 15.
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Western United defender Andrew Durante added his name to an esteemed list of players on Saturday afternoon, when he featured in his 400th Australian league game against Melbourne Victory.
Just six players have managed the feat before him, with Alex Tobin leading all-comers with an astonishing 522 games played.
Durante has clocked his 399 appearances to date between both the NSL and A-League, with stints at Sydney Olympic (2001/02–2002/03), Parramatta Power (2003/04), Newcastle Jets (2006/07–2007/08), Wellington Phoenix (2008/09–2018/19) and Western United (2019/20 - present).
The 38-year-old s esteemed career in Australian football is highlighted by an NSL title with Sydney Olympic in 2001/02 and an A-League Championship won with the Jets in the 2007/08 campaign, a Grand Final in which Durant claimed the Joe Marston Medal as the player of the match.
Spirit captain Brooke Halliday led the way for her side with 34 off 40, but she had little in the way of support and her side floundered after she was stumped by Tariel Lamb off the bowling of Jonas. Eimear Richardson tried to give them some impetus, but was caught by Regina Lili i for 18 off 10 off the bowling of Kelly, while Katie Gurrey had been Halliday’s first major partner, before she was dismissed the same way off the bowling of Jonas for 18 off 29. The Hearts were always going to be the favourites chasing less than six runs per over and while Halliday took 2-22 from her four overs they were barely troubled.