KEY POINTS:
WELLINGTON - Wellington bounced back to beat Central Districts by 69 runs in a State League women's cricket match in the capital yesterday.
Central had ended Wellington's unbeaten run on Saturday, beating the competition leaders by nine runs at Karori Park but could not reproduce their form today.
With the bonus-point win, Wellington move to 32, leaving Central, with five wins, on 23.
Canterbury, in third, narrowed a seven-point gap to Central with a six-wicket win over Auckland in Christchurch which put them on 20 points with three rounds to play.
Otago remained fourth with a bonus point, 111-run win over Northern Districts who are fifth in the standings ahead of Auckland.
All-rounder Sophie Devine was the architect of Wellington's win, scoring 42 runs and taking two for 32. Elizabeth Perry top-scored with 44 as Wellington, batting first, scored 189 for seven in their 50 overs.
Central, reeling at 48 for four by the 14th over, were skittled out for 120 in 39 overs with Lucy Doolan mopping up the tail for figures of three for 26.
Auckland, batting first, were bowled out for 205 in the 46th over as Canterbury's Beth McNeill snapped up four for 34.
Maiden half centuries to Janet Brehaut, 60 not out, and opener Frances Mackay, 55, helped steer Canterbury to 209 for four by the 42nd over.
At Invercargill, Otago, who beat Northern Districts by one wicket on Saturday, routed the same opponents by 111 runs yesterday.
The bulk of Otago's 239 for six came from Suzie Bates who starred with 89, Sarah Tsukigawa's 57 and Lynsew Askew's 43.
The Otago bowlers then ran through the Northern batting, reducing them to a paltry 128 in 41 overs. Leg spinner Emma Campbell took three for six off just four overs while Askew and Tanya Morrison chimed in with two wickets apiece.
- NZPA
