Cricket: Devine touch sinks Auckland

Wellington bounced back to beat Auckland by 88 runs in a fourth-round match in Upper Hutt yesterday and stay top of the national women's one-day cricket league.

Wellington, who lost by eight runs to Auckland in a third-round match at the same venue on Saturday, put on 190 in 49.4 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The competition leaders were in trouble at 68 for five but Sophie Devine, 42, and Melinda Hodgson, 58, put on 89 crucial runs for the sixth wicket. It was Hodgson's second 50 in 35 matches at this level.

Auckland bowler Rosie Cox had the outstanding figures of five for 40, the first five-wicket bag of her career.

Elizabeth Perry and Lucy Doolan grabbed three wickets each as Auckland struggled to get runs in the face of some tight fielding by Wellington.

At Whangarei, Otago defeated Northern Districts by six wickets yesterday to leap frog Auckland into second in the standings.

Saturday's third-round match between the sides was abandoned when persistent rain prevented Northern Districts from chasing Otago's 222 for nine.

Otago's international, Sarah Tsukigawa delivered a fine all-round performance, taking two wickets to help restrain Northern to 178 for eight and then top-scored with a 67 not out, which included seven boundaries, in her side's 181 for four.

At Christchurch, Central Districts beat Canterbury by 69 runs yesterday to avenge Saturday's third-round loss by seven wickets to their hosts. Central's score of 165 in 39.4 overs was anchored by Sara McGlashan's 69, a 14th half century at this level. Abby Burrows, with three for 23, led a miserly Central attack which winkled out the Canterbury batting lineup for just 96 runs in 39.5 overs.

Otago are second in the standings with 10 points followed by Auckland 8, Central Districts 8 and Northern Districts 6 after yesterday's matches.

- NZPA