Wellington will host Northern Districts in the HBJ Shield final on Saturday as they chase the domestic double this summer and ND try to win it for the first time. White Ferns captain Melie Kerr scored a century last weekend to signal her return and Wellington also have two of the best domestic cricketers this season in Jess Kerr and Xara Jetly. Add in White Fern Georgia Plimmer, hearty veterans Rebecca Burns and Jess McFadyen, plus one of the best young batters in Aotearoa Hannah Francis.

Jess Simmon has also had a good campaign in her first season with Wellington as their second best seamer. Another youngster Isla McKenzie also has a 50+ score this season and along with Francis, they will be useful bowling options in the final.

ND have Jess Watkin and Nensi Patel who are among the best all-rounders this season, with Patel hitting three consecutive 50+ scores heading into the final. Caitlin Gurrey and Canterbury's Kate Anderson are the only batters with five 50+ scores this season, while youngsters Eve Wolland and Natasha Wakeln are on the rise as batters (and spinners like Watkin/Patel).

The funkiest thing for ND though is their seam unit. Kayley Knight, Marama Downes and Lucy Boucher are all averaging below 25 this season. Knight has been the best seamer for ND this summer and the only seamers with more wickets than her in HBJ Shield are J-Kerr and Canterbury's Missy Banks.

Wicket-keeper Holly Topp is having her best season which sets up an enticing battle of the keepers against McFadyen. Skye Bowden has found a regular role in the ND team this season as a seaming all-rounder, while Yasmeen Kareem has played every game and always looks capable of scoring big runs.

The last team to do the double was Canterbury in 2020/21. Otago's absence is notable given their dynastic mahi in HBJ Shield and since Canterbury dipped away from the championship tier, Otago have been the only challengers to Wellington's excellence. Wellington have a chance to reinforce their status as the best women's cricket team in Aotearoa and ND's chasing a historic championship. Should be fun.

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Recent winners…

HBJ Shield

2024/25: Otago
2023/24: Otago
2022/23: Wellington
2021/22: Otago
2020/21: Canterbury

Super Smash

2024/25: Wellington
2023/24: Wellington
2022/23: Canterbury
2021/22: Wellington
2020/21: Canterbury

Wellington

Batting

Jess Kerr: 274 runs @ 30.4avg/88sr, 3 x 50
Hannah Francis: 241 runs @ 24.1avg/77sr, 2 x 50
Xara Jetly: 223 runs @ 31.8avg/56sr
Georgia Plimmer: 185 runs @ 23.1avg/68sr, 1 x 50
Jess McFadyen: 154 runs @ 25.6avg/57sr
Isla McKenzie: 140 runs @ 20avg/62sr, 1 x 50
Rebecca Burns: 136 runs @ 22.6avg/77sr, 1x 50
Melie Kerr: 134 runs @ 67avg/97sr, 1 x 100

Bowling

Xara Jetly: 18w @ 20.3avg/4.4rpo, 1 x 5w
Jess Kerr: 17w @ 16.8avg/3.3rpo, 1 x 5w
Jess Simmons: 10w @ 23.1avg/5rpo
Rachel Bryant: 8w @ 24.7avg/4.8rpo
Hannah Francis: 6w @ 31.6avg/4.7rpo
Nicole Baird: 6w @ 44.5avg/4.6rpo
Natasha Codyre: 4w @ 18avg/3.7rpo
Emma Parker: 1w @ 29avg/4.8rpo
Isla McKenzie: 1w @ 30avg/5rpo
Melie Kerr: 1w @ 30avg/4.1rpo

Northern Districts

Batting

Caitlin Gurrey: 479 runs @ 47.9avg/82sr, 5 x 50
Nensi Patel: 283 runs @ 31.4avg/104sr, 3 x 50
Jess Watkin: 277 runs @ 34.6avg/85sr, 3 x 50
Natasha Wakelin: 218 runs @ 21.8avg/76sr, 2 x 50
Holly Topp: 198 runs @ 33avg/75sr, 1 x 50
Yasmeen Kareem: 155 runs @ 15.5avg/50sr
Eve Wolland: 137 runs @ 15.2avg/77sr
Marama Downes: 67 runs @ 11.1avg/92sr
Skye Bowden: 40 runs @ 20avg/69sr
Kayley Knight: 36 runs @ 18avg/63sr

Bowling

Jess Watkin: 16w @ 16.3avg/3.6rpo
Kayley Knight: 15w @ 14.2avg/3.9rpo
Nensi Patel: 13w @ 21.2avg/3.9rpo
Marama Downes: 10w @ 24.1avg/3.4rpo
Lucy Boucher: 9w @ 17.5avg/4.2rpo
Natasha Wakelin: 6w @ 19avg/4.3rpo
Eve Wolland: 2w @ 13avg/4.4rpo
Sophie Court: 1w @ 22avg/4.4rpo
Skye Bowden: 1w @ 62avg/5.1rpo

Best of the rest

Auckland

Maddy Green: 334 runs @ 41.7avg/75sr | 13w @ 15.8avg/4.5rpo
Prue Catton: 242 runs @ 26.8avg/74sr
Josie Penfold: 15w @ 17.6avg/4.7rpo
Bree Illing: 13w @ 20avg/4rpo

Central Districts

Emma McLeod: 474 runs @ 59.2avg/82sr
Cate Pederson: 258 runs @ 28.6avg/80sr
Elizabeth Cohr: 14w @ 16.3avg/5.4rpo
Rosemary Mair: 14w @ 179avg/4.1rpo

Canterbury

Kate Anderson: 560 runs @ 70avg/86sr
Izzy Sharp: 330 runs @ 33avg/77sr
Sarah Asmussen: 19w @ 20.2avg/4.8rpo
Missy Banks: 17w @ 17.6avg/4rpo

Otago

Felicity Robertson: 350 runs @ 35avg/74sr
Polly Inglis: 300 runs @ 33avg/99sr
Emma Black: 21w @ 15.6avg/3.4rpo
PJ Watkins: 11w @ 33avg/5.4rpo

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Peace and love.