The Central Districts Hinds removed any suggestions of getting lucky when they beat the Auckland Hearts to be crowned the domestic women's one-day champions in New Plymouth today.
The Anlo van Deventer-captained Hinds, who had earned the right to be the top qualifiers without the services of White Ferns Hannah Rowe and Rosemary Mair, of Napier, beat the Aucklanders by 39 runs at Pukekura Park after a rain-delayed start.
Hearts skipper Maddy Green won the toss and elected to inject CD who were skittled for 200 runs and two balls shy of their allotted 50 overs.
Former New Zealand international Natalie Dodd, opening, and first drop Van Deventer formed the cornerstone of the champions' innings after a second-wicket stand of 48 and 60 runs, respectively.
It appeared as if patience was imperative on a heavy field so Dodd, from 81 deliveries, including five boundaries, and Van Deventer, from 96 balls, including six fours, did just that for the Jamie Watkins-coached hosts.
Skye Bowden, at first change, was the pick of the seven bowlers Auckland employed with 4-37.
In reply, the Hearts stuttered to 161 runs all out and, damningly, three overs shy of batting their allotted 50 overs.
Only No 6 Holly Huddleston, with a patient 56 runs from 111 balls, showed some resolve but, unfortunately for the visitors, found no one else willing to go the distance.
Vice-captain Rowe cut the heart out of the top order, claiming the scalps of White Ferns Lauren Downs and Green for inglorious ducks in her first over before returning in the sixth over to claim the wicket of another international, Katie Perkins, for two runs after she feathered a delivery to Dodds.
Opener Mair, mopping up the tail, and international Jess Watkin claimed two wickets each while Mikaela Greig and Melissa Hansen - removing opener Anna Peterson, a White Fern - took one each.
The last time CD Hinds had won a national crown was in the summer of 2009-10 when they clinched the one-day and twenty20 titles under former New Zealand skipper Aimee Watkins (nee Mason), the wife of current coach Jamie.
That season, under the tutelage of Doug Bracewell snr, of Masterton, Hawke's Bay had a swag of Hinds representatives in Rachel Priest, Sara McGlashan, Abby Burrows, Kelly Winkley, Aroha Northover, Sonya Thompson, Kelly Rangi and a then 13-year-old on debut, Maneka Singh.
This summer Mair is the only Bay flag flier.