Cricket: Auckland women facing wrong end of hat trick

Canterbury will have a psychological edge into the State League women's one-day cricket final against Auckland in Christchurch today.

Top qualifiers Canterbury twice beat Auckland during the preliminary rounds.

"We have chased targets effectively all summer and are applying a lot of pressure with our bowling," Canterbury coach Vicki Burtt said. "It's time for the trophy to return to Canterbury."

Defending champions Auckland have had a mixed season, with the losses to Canterbury and against Wellington.

Auckland's batting is based around international Emily Drumm, who has scored 303 runs at 60.60.

Natalee Scripps is second on the league's bowling table with 17 wickets at 11.58.

Canterbury go into the game with their New Zealand representatives Haidee Tiffen and Nicola Payne in fine form with the bat. Payne heads the league batting aggregate with 382 runs at an average of 54.57, Tiffen has scored 203 runs at 40.60.

The side's bowlers have also dominated the competition, with Beth McNeill taking 18 wickets at an average of 12.83.

Auckland (from): M. Lynch (capt), K. Brown, A. Coyle, E. Drumm, P. Gruber, R. Kember, E. Komp, D. Ramsay, R. Rolls, N. Scripps, K. Scott, A. Soma, H. Watson.

Canterbury: H. Tiffen (capt), S. Burke, S. Charteris, K. Craig, H. Daly, M. Fahey, R. Kelly, B. McNeill, R. Milburn, N. Payne, H. Rae, R. Steele.

- NZPA