The Wellington Blaze celebrate their win over Northern Brave in the Super Smash elimination final at the Basin Reserve, 1 Feb 2025. Photo: Photosport
A brilliant bowling performance from skipper Melie Kerr has propelled the Wellington Blaze into tomorrow's Super Smash final after beating the Northern Brave in Wellington on Saturday.
Kerr, fresh from being named ICC women's cricketer of the year this week, also top-scored her side's innings, with 29.
The Blaze will have the benefit of their home Basin Reserve wicket when they play the Otago Sparks in the final on Sunday (start time: 12.40pm).
The Brave contested the elimination final strongly, but in the end they couldn't master Kerr's wrist spin, and went down by 23 runs with eight balls remaining.
The Brave side had done well to restrict the Wellingtonians to 133-6 after putting them into bat. Opener Rebecca Burns blazed her way to 21 off 10 balls before losing her wicket.
Kerr and her sister Jess had a promising looking third wicket partnership but when they had put on 33, Melie failed to control a shot off Kayley Knight's bowling and was caught by Jess Watkin.
The Blaze couldn't get a decent partnership together after that, but their total was at least competitive.
The Brave set out after the Blaze bowling, with skipper Watkin leading the way, scoring 25 off 13 balls.
When she was run out, Caitlin Gurrey and Samantha Barriball carried on the good work.
But when Kerr brought herself into the attack, the momentum changed instantly with Gurrey out to Kerr's first ball and Barriball trapped in front in the same over.
Marina Lamplough (16) and Ninesh Patel (23) kept the run rate up, but when Patel succumbed to a Kerr delivery in the 16th over, the damage was done.
Kerr, who finished with four for 19 off her four overs, said home advantage in the final should be a plus as they have played a lot at the Basin this summer.
"We are playing a quality Otago side who haven't played much cricket as of late whereas we have come off a lot. I think that's a big help, but again it's a new day tomorrow and we might have a lot of tired bodies so we have to get up," she told Sky Sport.
Watkin rued losing too many wickets after a good batting start. "We just needed to kick on and build a few more partnerships."
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