KEY POINTS:
A 98 by Northern Districts all rounder Nicola Browne was not enough to prevent her side from losing by 10 runs to Central Districts in a State League one-day cricket match at Mount Maunganui today.
Set 236 to win, Browne and skipper Anna Wilkins put on 61 runs for the third wicket before Wilkins departed for 43 in the 20th over with the score at 90 for three.
Browne then played aggressively in a 62-run partnership with Anna Peterson for the fourth wicket with Peterson contributing just 19 runs before being bowled by Kelly Winkley in the 35th over.
Browne, whose 111-ball innings included seven boundaries and two sixes, continued to attack the Central bowling but lacked support at the other end as Northern lost five wickets for 72 runs.
The White Fern international was last out, just two runs short of a maiden century, falling to Kate Broadmore who finished the match with two for 47.
Earlier, Central Districts scored 245 for nine with major contributions from Rachel Priest, 64, and Michelle Frey, 42 not out.
Natalie Edwards and Louise Milliken grabbed three wickets each but there were handy contributions throughout from Central's batting.
Wellington stayed unbeaten after three rounds of the competition with a three-run win over Auckland at Melville Park.
In a low scoring affair, Wellington, who won the toss and opted to bat, posted 126 before exiting in the 48th over.
Auckland bowler Prashilla Mistry starred with four wickets for 27 runs. Natalee Scripps, Sakia Bullen and Shanna Coetzee chimed in with two apiece.
However, Auckland, at 57 for five after just 16 overs were unable to establish any momentum to their innings as Wellington bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Sian Ruck and Anna Dodd took three wickets apiece while Sophie Devine joined in with two for 18.
Megan Murphy top scored for Auckland with 30 runs.
The match between Canterbury and Otago at Christchurch was abandoned due to heavy rain.
- NZPA
