An under strength Anndion Lodge Wanganui Women's cricket team came within 15 runs of completing an amazing run chase against Taranaki at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park on Sunday.
Over 580 runs were scored in the Shrimpton Trophy clash and Wanganui would have been fearful of a heavy defeat after the home side, led by White Fern batsman Kate Broadmore, amassed 299-9 from their 50 overs.
As opener, Broadmore batted with all of her teammates, scoring an outstanding 155 not out from 153 balls and striking 19 boundaries.
Her best support came in the 127-run partnership with Monique Rees (42 from 65 balls), while one other Taranaki batter made 18 and the rest were all dismissed in single figures.
It was a sole innings of dominance - the Wanganui bowlers figures against Broadmore were heavy while against the other ten players extremely healthy.
Allrounder Jessica Watkin, back from playing in two games for the New Zealand A team against the White Ferns and Sri Lanka, took 3-57 from her ten overs of spin, while Chloe Peters got 2-51 from nine.
Starting the chase to get 300, it would have appeared a hiding was on the cards as Wanganui had not only lost their veteran Trin McCarty with illness on the morning of the game, but bowler Dana Garrett could not bat, having broken her finger after delivering four overs in the first innings.
Yet starting with nine wickets available and a mountain to climb, Wanganui fought through to 285, being dismissed midway through the final over when a victory or tie was still theoretically possible.
To put this in perspective - almost 12 months ago to the day at Victoria Park, Wanganui played Taranaki and were bowled out for 33.
Player-coach Michelle Mitchell made a fantastic 108 from 104 balls, hitting 12 boundaries, and would share a 111-run partnership with Watkin, who smashed 63 from 45 balls including seven boundaries and four sixes.
The middle order of Alana Cameron (30) and Lisa Grant (37) dug in, with Grant trying to bat through with the tail and being the last wicket to fall as she was run out in an attempt to get No11 Jen Bennett, who had survived 23 balls, off the strike.
Run-outs hurt Wanganui with three in the innings, while Taranaki bowler Kate Baxter took 3-42 from her ten overs.
Wanganui cricket development officer Dilan Raj called it a "courageous performance".
"Mitchell was very impressed with her team's fight and commented that a injury-free team would have crossed the line."
Taranaki 299-9 (K Broadmore 155no, M Rees 42, J Watkin 3-57) bt Wanganui 285 (M Mitchell 108, J Watkin 63, L Grant 37, A Cameron 30, K Baxter 3-42) by 14 runs.