Northern Districts snuck in a win over Canterbury to keep themselves in the mix for Women's Super Smash finals before the blokes from Canterbury brushed aside ND as they continue to push towards finals. The loss for Canterbury wahine drops them out of the finals mix and tied with Auckland at the bottom of the ladder on 12 points each, while an epic Northern Brave run of championship mahi is over as they are stuck at the bottom of the men's ladder.

Batting first, the Brave women hit 123/5 with 53* @ 112sr from Caitlin Gurrey their leading score. Eimear Richardson chimed in with 38 runs @ 118sr and 17-year-old Eve Wolland finished the innings on 18* @ 112sr. Lea Tahuhu (2w @ 4rpo) and Missy Banks (2w @ 6.5rpo) were the best bowlers for Canterbury before rain switched this contest into a frisky 7 over encounter in which Canterbury needed 55 runs.

They finished 53/5 with Marama Downes continuing her excellent season, taking 2w @ 7rpo for Brave. Carol Agafili has been tasked with bowling the final over for Brave throughout Super Smash and the Samoan international managed to get the job done in a tricky spot against Frances Mackay (19 runs @ 146sr). Agafili only has 1 wicket in Super Smash but her 7.8rpo with most of her 8 overs being bowled at the death is a strong foundation for the youngster to build on top of.

Downes is the leading wicket-taker for Brave and she is four deliveries behind Jess Watkin as the busiest Brave bowler. Ahead of the Friday (19th) game between Otago and Central Districts, Downes is one of nine bowlers with at least 9w and she is second to Amelia Kerr as the most economical bowlers in this group.

Wolland is yet to be dismissed in Super Smash batting with scores of 11*, 15* and 18*. Wolland already had a strike-rate of 118 prior to her knock against Canterbury (her NZC stats aren't updated yet), so she stays above 100sr. Add in 18-year-old Natasha Wakelin who has a 50+ score in HBJ Shield this season and Northern Districts have funky batting prospects to watch out for.

Canterbury batted first in the men's game and Chad Bowes finally found a groove, scoring 85 runs @ 197sr in a strong opening combo with Tom Latham (62 runs @ 158sr). Along with Bevon Jacobs doing what he does best (whacking 36* @ 276sr), Canterbury reached 228/6. ND could only muster 138/7 in reply as Will O'Rourke showcased his talent in a hostile spell, snaring 4w @ 5.7rpo.

After featuring for Blackcaps last year, Bowes has had a niggly season of domestic cricket. Bowes scored 28 runs @ 7avg in Plunket Shield, followed by 143 runs @ 35avg/94sr in Ford Trophy without a 50+ knock. Bowes scored 37 runs in seven innings prior to this outing against ND with one score over 10 runs in that period.

Jacobs has leaped up to second in the highest batting strike-rate charts....

• Doug Bracewell: 170 runs @ 215sr

• Bevon Jacobs: 113 runs @ 198sr

• Tim Robinson: 298 runs @ 187sr

• Tom Blundell: 71 runs @ 182sr

• Max Chu: 116 runs @ 178sr

• Mitch Hay: 132 runs @ 178sr

O'Rourke took the wickets, but Zak Foulkes was just as impressive in an enticing tandem for Canterbury. O'Rourke was bowling with all sorts of fizz, hurrying batters up and enjoying the pace/bounce that his frame provides. Foulkes' mahi is more subtle as he has excellent doosras and his quiver of deliveries includes swing that many would envy, allowing Foulkes to finish with 5.7rpo from his 4ov.

O'Rourke and Foulkes are excellent youngsters. ND's young seamers aren't quite in the same form but Kristian Clarke was the best bowler for Brave with 1w @ 6.7rpo and Matthew Fisher flashed his talent against Wellington a few days prior. Fisher didn't play against Canterbury and these two are both averaging 35+ in Super Smash this season, yet they continue to show signs of their talent.

This also applies to Tim Pringle who took 1w @ 16.5rpo against Canterbury, but he is second behind Scott Kuggeleijn as the best bowlers for Brave. Pringle's got 8w @ 27avg/8.7rpo and sits behind Peter Younghusband, Louis Delport, Jayden Lennox and Ajaz Patel for spin wickets.

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