The Auckland Hearts have beaten the Wellington Blaze by 44 runs to end the remarkable unbeaten run of the Dream11 Super Smash defending champions.
The Auckland Hearts celebrate. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
The Hearts became the first team to beat the Wellington Blaze in the Super Smash since 13 February 2021 - the longest winning streak in Super Smash history.
The Blaze went through 20 rounds without defeat and beat the Hearts by 26 runs the last time they met, in Auckland in January.
The top qualifier headed into their last game of the regular season, bowling first at the Basin Reserve in Wellington after the Auckland Hearts elected to bat.
The Hearts finished with 131/6 from their 20 overs. Opening batter Saachi Shahri top scored with 30 runs, setting the home side 132 to win.
But the Blaze, who are without their White Ferns' players with the start of the T20 World Cup in South Africa just days away, lost wickets at regular intervals.
Opener Rebecca Burns top scored with 35 but wickets kept falling around her.
The Blaze were all out for 87 in the 18th over. The defending champions have already secured a place in the finals.
Hearts bowler Josie Penfold had a big impact, taking four wickets.
The win keeps the Auckland Hearts faint playoff hopes alive.
The Aucklanders will need the Otago Sparks to lose heavily to the Canterbury Magicians in Dunedin tomorrow to sneak into the final playoffs berth.
Meanwhile, the bottom of the table clash between the Wellington Firebirds and Auckland Aces went down to the wire in Wellington.
The Firebirds still had a chance of making the play offs but the Aces 9 run win meant the Super Smash season was over for both sides.
Batting first Auckland made 119 for 8 off their 18 overs in what as a rain reduced match.
Robert O'Donnell top scored for Auckland with 43 runs.
The Wellington Firebirds top scorer was Nick Kelly with 24 but the home side lost quick wickets in the tail end and were bowled out for 110 with 2 balls to spare.
The top qualifier in the men's and women's league proceeds direct to the 11 February Grand Final, while the second and third placed teams after the 10 rounds of the regular season head to the Elimination Final, conducted two days earlier on Thursday, 9 February.