NORTHLAND women's cricket team came oh-so-close to claiming the Northern Districts provincial title at Cobham Oval yesterday.
The Northland side had gained entry to the final after the Bay of Plenty side defaulted to them and were not expected to trouble a slick Hamilton side in the match.
But Northland batted well
against the odds in the first innings of the eight-aside, 40-over game reaching 121 in the 40th over, with opener Jody Antunovich top-scoring with 26.
She was supported by Brooke Morrison (18), Heather Deane (17) and Sam Morgan (15).
Hamilton's Ane Swart top-scored in the run chase with an unbeaten 40 but the result was anything but certain for the visitors.
Good bowling by Northland caused the steady fall of Hamilton wickets. Northland claimed the sixth Hamilton wicket, with the visitors still needing 12 runs to win, setting up a great climax to the game.
Swart steered the team home but their were plenty of nerves on display in the final overs.
Deane said it was a great finish to a good game.
"They were really sweating it out on the sidelines and it was a shame we couldn't get that last wicket to win the game," she said.
"It was still a good achievement to make the final, even though we only got to play one game in the end, and good to play the game here at Cobham Oval."
Deane finished with one for 8, Kelly Durham took two for 17 and Nicci Anderson finished with one for 27.
