Cricket: Cool superkid Amelia Kerr an exciting talent

Fourteen-year-old bowler Amelia Kerr took three wickets yesterday and is tipped to become a world beater. Photo / PHOTOSPORT

Wellington captain Sophie Devine has singled out 14-year-old Amelia Kerr for commendation as the Blaze surged to the national Twenty 20 title with a 10-wicket victory over the Otago Sparks in Dunedin yesterday.

Kerr, with three for 19, and Eimear Richardson, with three for 16, helped restrict the Sparks to 97. Wellington reached the target with 28 balls to spare.

"She's unbelievable," said Devine who also debuted aged 14, 11 years ago. "She's bowled a couple of last overs during our season and doesn't get fazed. Thinking back to that age, I would've been crapping my pants, but she's had a fantastic first year. She's an exciting talent and, if we look after her and let her grow up, she could be a world beater."

The only Otago batswomen to get beyond 10 were New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who made 34 off 37, and Katey Martin, with 22 from 24 balls.

"Our spinners did a great job taking the pace off the ball and making them hit to the longer boundaries, then our batters made it look like a different pitch out there.

"When we found out it was going to be on TV, a few of the girls were nervous, making sure their hair looked good and they had their make-up on," Devine quipped. "But we handled it really well. Everyone supported each other."

Devine also appreciated ODI sixth-wicket partnership world record holders and fellow Wellingtonians Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi coming to talk to them before the game.

The crowd was treated to majestic strokeplay from unbeaten openers Rachel Priest and Erin Burns.

Neither player forced her shots and they were rewarded with a steady flow of runs as they pierced gaps in the Sparks inner ring. The Tasmanian import Burns made 59 from 50 balls and Priest 37 from 42.