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Auckland retain State League

Monday, February 24 2003

The Auckland Women's Cricket team outplayed Canterbury in all areas of the game on Saturday at Redwood Park in Christchurch to retain the State League trophy.

This is the fourth year in a row that Auckland have held the title. This came after they just scraped into the final by one point after recording 3 losses during the round robin series. Two of them were against Canterbury.

Auckland Wicketkeeper-batsman Rebecca Rolls picked up $1000 after being named man or the match in a great day with the bat and gloves.

She took 3 catches, 1 stumping and a runout before scoring 82 in just 80 balls. On-lookers described her innings as similar to that of an accomplished male batsman. This
was her highest domestic innings but last year she scored 114 in an international match against Australia.

Canterbury captain and New Zealand team mate Haidee Tiffen was heard to say: "Rebecca will aways rise for the big games and today was a perfect example. She was a
class ahead of everyone else on the park"

The day started badly for Canterbury as Tiffen lost her 10th toss in an 11 match season and was put into bat, but at the prize giving she joked: "The toss is one thing that I will have to practise over the winter months"

Canterbury were then looking for a big score and were well placed at 100-2 after a 82 run partnership between Tiffen and Nicola Payne. They then crumbled and lost their last 8
wickets for just 42 runs. Maria Fahey was left not out on 13 batting at number 5 as no-one stayed and built a partnership with her.

For Auckland, opening bowler Natalee Scripps took 3 wickets for 13 runs. Paula Gruber and former Canterbury player Helen Watson also picked up 2 wickets each as Auckland
rolled the Cantabs for just 142 runs.

In reply opening batter Rolls stole the show with a great innings which included 13 boundaries. Rolls smashed the first ball of the innings through point for 4.

She was supported well by New Zealand captain Emily Drumm who scored 22. For Canterbury Helen Daly bowled well to take 2-23 off 10 overs. Hanna Rae, Rebecca Steele and Beth McNeill grabbed 1 wicket each.

"We knew we had to bring our best game to this match today if we had any chance of winning. We didn't and they fielded, batted and bowled better than us so they deserve it" said Tiffen after the match.

SUMMARY:

TOSS: Auckland Hearts
RESULT: Auckland won by 5 wickets
SERIES: Auckland win the 2002/2003 State League

Canterbury Magicians 142 all out(Tiffen 38, Payne 34, Scripps 3-13, Watson 2-31) LOST TO
Auckland Hearts 145/5 (Rolls 82, Drumm 22, Daly 2-23, Rae 1-19)

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Rebecca Rolls (Auckland)

Posted by Tamara