Wellington Blaze celebrate victory over Canterbury Magicians in the Hallyburton Shield Final. Photo: Photosport
Wellington Blaze have deprived retiring Canterbury Magicians great Amy Satterthwaite the ideal last game by winning the final of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield women's one-day competition in Queenstown.
The Cantabrians lost by just four runs after taking a fierce run chase to final over, led by top-scorer Satterthwaite, who compiled 66 off 72 in the 323rd and final list A game of her career before departing at a key point in the 45th over.
However, her knock wasn't as influential as that of Maddy Green, who struck 106 off exactly a run per ball in Wellington's 258-8 off 50 overs which set up their first one-day title in 19 years.
Green had sound support from opener Jess McFadyen while Gabby Sullivan took 4-54 for Canterbury.
Wellington captain Leigh Kasperek took 4-46 but it was another Blaze spin bowler - 19-year-old Nicole Baird - who held her nerve best when asked to bowl the 50th and final over, with Canterbury needing 13 to win.
After conceding eight runs of her first four balls, Baird bowled the experiend Lea Tahuhu to effectively decide the outcome and deny Canterbury a domestic double, having secured the Super Smash Twenty20 crown.
Satterthwaite said it was "gutting" to get so close to a win in her final game, without the spoils.
"I thought we did extremely well to get that close," said the left-hand legend who retires as one of just two New Zealanders, alongside Suzie Bates, to have scored more than 10,000 runs in women's List A cricket.
"It hit me this morning that this is it [the last game], and I've felt really content with my decision. But when it actually comes to your last day, it's interesting emotions.
"I had to write a note on the wall saying, 'Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened.' I just wanted to remind myself of what I have been through over the last 20 or so years, how much I've enjoyed it, and I just wanted to really smile as much as I could to enjoy this last moment, whether we won or lost."
It wasn't the fairytale ending for Satterthwaite, but neither team would allow her to slink off into the sunset without some fanfare.
She had led the Magicians team on and off the field in the first innings, and the Wellington Blaze team formed a guard of honour in the middle as she walked out to bat for the last time.
There were some wet eyes in the aftermath, and Green emphasised how much Satterthwaite had meant to so many players in the New Zealand game.
"Amy's not just a legend of Canterbury cricket, but of New Zealand women's cricket as well, and it's fitting for her that she's played in two finals this season.
"She showed her class again and again.
"Amy's been a big mentor for me throughout my career, and it's not only me. I know Melie Kerr couldn't speak more highly of Amy."
Satterthwaite finished as the season's second highest Hallyburton Johnstone Shield runscorer with 406 runs at an 81.20 average, behind only Otago Spark Kate Ebrahim's 588 at an average of 98.00.
Sullivan edged Kasperek as the top bowler in the competition this summer, Sullivan with 21 wickets at 15.05 and Kasperek the leading spinner with 20 at 12.85.
- RNZ