Central Hinds outclassed by Hearts

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After the highs of leading the Central Districts Under 21's to the national title, Whanganui cricketer Jessica Watkin was brought back to earth as the CD Hinds suffered back-to-back losses to the Auckland Hearts in the senior women's one-day competition this week.

However, the allrounder had personal success as she played herself back into some batting form after a lean run at the Under 21 tournament.

On Monday at Lincoln's Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Auckland comfortably took out the first game by 65 runs.

Despite Hannah Rowe bowling Auckland captain Victoria Lind in the third over, the Hearts recovered through Samantha Curtis (62) and Katie Perkins (40), with others contributing throughout the order to reach 249/9.

Watkin was a little expensive with her spinners, 0-28 from five overs.

The Hinds were struggling at 25/2 as openers Melissa Hansen and Anndion Lodge Wanganui skipper Michelle Mitchell were out within the first four overs, and then CD captain Kate Broadmore also fell cheaply.

Watkin, named the Hinds 2015 Young Player of the Year, dug in at No4 and scored 67 from 96 balls, hitting 10 boundaries.

However, her partners all fell quickly and when Watkin was caught at 130/8, the Hinds best hope had gone, and it took a tenth wicket flourish to get them through to 184 before being dismissed in the 48th over.

It didn't get much better on Tuesday as the Hearts beat the Hinds by six wickets.

Mitchell and Broadmore again went early but Hansen (62) and Anlo van Deventer (77) built a partnership, with Watkin also looking good before she was given out LBW after making 22 from 24 balls including four boundaries.

However, after van Deventer went, the tail was ripped apart by Hearts bowler Maddy Green, who took 5-45 and was sitting on a hat trick at one point, as the Hinds were dismissed off the second to last ball of the innings for 228.

Hearts batters Curtis (65) and Perkins (62) then controlled the run chase as Auckland made anaggressive start, sitting comfortably at 121/1 by the 22nd over.

Watkin got an LBW on the only Auckland batter who did not contribute a good score, amongst her figures of 1-50 with one maiden from nine overs.

Yet Auckland never looked troubled and reached 230/4 in the 38th over.

Meanwhile, Wanganui's Ben Smith did not have much success with the bat for the Central Districts Stags against the Wellington Firebirds, although his team did the business with a 32 run win at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.

Opening, Smith was dismissed for four, but his partner George Worker went on to amass 114 from 120 balls, anchoring his team's 241 total, while Jesse Ryder smacked a signature 58 from 42 balls.

In reply, Wellington were bowled out for 209 in 48 overs, with only Luke Woodcock showing real fight, coming in at 84/6 and making 102 from 103 balls, before being one of Seth Rance's four wickets.