White Ferns captain Sophie Devine has shown her utter dominance of trans-Tasman women's cricket, steering Wellington Blaze home over Otago Sparks for the Super Smash women's crown at Hamilton.
Late last year, Devine, 32, guided Perth Scorchers to victory over Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash final, topscoring in the final and named Tournament Team captain.
In the NZ domestic Twenty20 final, she was again the kingpin that held the Blaze innings together, after captain Maddy Green won the toss and elected to bat first.
Devine smashed five sixes and 10 fours in her knock of 92, before she was caught on the boundary in the final over, agonisingly short of her fourth Super Smash century.
She found able support from Green, who compiled 55 off 35 balls and formed a 110-run partnership with Devine, before she followed three balls later, caught by rival captain Suzie Bates off the final delivery of the innings.
The target of 176 runs for victory was always imposing for Otago, who had not reached triple figures in their previous two encounters this season, and they were hampered by a steady fall of wickets.
Bates was the key scalp in the third over for just three runs, as the Sparks tumbled to 47/5. Only some adventurous batting from the lower order helped them to 100 runs, surviving a hat-trick chance for Leigh Kasperek in the process.
"It's always nice to contribute to the team effort," reflects Devine.
The result completes an unbeaten season for the Blaze, who were upset in last year's final by Canterbury Magicians and sought to make amends.
"Our processes have been really clear throughout and we just stuck to them," says Devine. "We knew they had threats with the ball all the way through, so we knew we needed a good total and we were able to do so.
"Maddy's got a really good head on her shoulders. She sometimes reins me in and I sometimes rein her in - it's all about partnerships with the bat and ball."
Devine also contributed with ball in hand, taking the key wickets of Katey Martin and Kate Ebrahim, whom she served a parting message, as she left the field.
Blaze 175/4 (Devine 92, Green 55, Black 2/36) Sparks 100 (Martin 16, Black 16, Kasperek 3/23)
Wellington win by 75 runs
More to come
