White Ferns captain Sophie Devine has had no trouble settling back into NZ domestic cricket, helping Wellington Blaze to an emphatic eight-wicket Super Smash victory over Northern Brave at Whangarei's Cobham Oval.
In her first appearance on an Aotearoa pitch since the White Ferns' opening T20 against Australia at Seddon Park last March, Devine scored an unbeaten 20 runs to cruise past the hosts' record-low T20 total of 46.
The 32-year-old opening batter took no time chasing down the total, hitting a four on her second ball and a six to win the match.
But Wellington's bowlers created some unwanted history for Northern, whose total failed to reach the previous record of 56 set by Central HInds against the Blaze at Lincoln two seasons ago.
Off-spinner Xara Jetly claimed incredible figures of 4/1 off three overs, right after White Ferns star Amelia Kerr took 3/9.
"It's pretty unreal, but then again it was a team effort," says Jetly. "The openers [Jess Kerr and Sophie Devine] really set the tone there for me and made it a bit easier for me."
“The last thing [coach] Lance Dry told me was 85 percent of the time to bowl at the stumps and I hope that he’s happy.
“My gameplan is pretty simple - it’s just to bowl at the stumps and vary that pace a lot - that tends to be my strength - and force the batters to play a shot every time.”
Choosing to bat first, Northern were quickly reduced to 27/2 by the Kerr sisters and never really recovered. Amelia Kerr's figures included two wickets in consecutive balls, reducing the Brave to 32/5.
Then it was Jetly's time to shine, taking the final three wickets all in one over.
After eight wins from eight outings, the Blaze sit comfortably atop the Super Smash ladder, inching closer and closer to their fourth T20 title in five years.
