Women's cricket: Steady foundation leads to success

It wasn't exactly the Wellington Blaze yesterday but the Hawke's Bay women's cricket team still showed character in winning the first game of their season in Palmerston North.
The Bob Morgan-coached Bay side effectively beat the Wellington Development team by 36 runs on a balmy day.
Having lost the toss, Bay openers Michele Frey (Havelock North) and Sophie Davies (Tech) laid a steady foundation with a 57-run first wicket partnership.
Aroha Northover and Pennyrose Wiggins came and went before fellow Cornwall batsman Sharn Simpson and former Central Districts Hinds player Sonya Thompson put on an aggressive 5th-wicket partnership of 97 runs.
"That broke Wellington's back," Morgan said as the Bay amassed 223 from 50 overs against a side that left a little to be desired in bowling but looked solid in batting.
Wellington's opening bowler, Alex Evans, gifted an 11-ball first over and the team added no fewer than 38 extras to Bay's tally, including 30 wides.
The city slickers' run chase fell shy with spinner Renee Moffitt, who snared two wickets, top scoring with 61 runs as they ran out of overs after Bay bowlers stifled the batsmen.
Wiggins was the pick of the bowlers with three scalps while Krystina Fredric and Maneka Singh tightened the screws with a wicket each from 10 frugal overs.
However, the Bay were also in a festive mood as they reciprocated in the extras department well before Christmas.
They coughed up 26 wides.
While delighted with the win, Morgan felt his troops needed to sharpen their calling and running between the wickets and concentration on the field after a few dropped catches.
"La [Northover] went out to an amazing catch because any other day it would have gone for four.
"The girls seem to have the right attitude this year and that sort of attitude goes a long way," Morgan said.
In New Plymouth, Taranaki beat Manawatu with White Ferns skipper Aimme Watkins scoring one of two tons while Canterbury-bound Rachel Candy emulated that feat but to no avail.
The Bay play Manawatu this Sunday and Taranaki play Wellington in games at Palmerston North before the first-class competition begins next month.
Scoreboard - p12.