KEY POINTS:
Wellington women's cricket stalwart Amanda Cooper completed a weekend to remember as her slow medium pacers bedazzled Otago in the capital yesterday.
Cooper claimed a career-best six wickets for nine runs off 10 overs as the State League leaders beat Otago by 58 runs at Karori Park.
Her performance followed the remarkable return of three for none off 2.4 overs during Wellington's Twenty20 defeat of the southerners.
Yesterday's spell was a matchwinning one as Otago were on track to overhaul Wellington's 134, having cruised to 49 without loss in 12 overs. However, Cooper's introduction saw openers Katey Martin and Suzie Bates removed for 24 and 19 respectively before the 25-year-old ran amok through the Otago lineup, helping dismiss them for 76 in 32.2 overs.
Cooper's figures were her best in 82 matches for Wellington dating back to 1999 and were the best in the State League since Canterbury spinner Rebecca Steele took six for eight against Auckland three summers
ago.
Earlier, Wellington opener Lucy Doolan top-scored with 42, setting up a fifth victory from five matches which has Wellington clear of the field at the halfway stage of the season.
Central Districts are second following their easy 61-run defeat of Auckland in Auckland.
Sara McGlashan struck 82 of Central's 181 and the hosts struggled in response, dismissed for 120, with Aimee Mason taking three for 18.
Northern Districts upset Canterbury by seven wickets in Christchurch, dismissing the defending champions for 159 and reaching 160 for three with 8.4 overs to spare. Emily Wilson took three for 39 for Northern, while Nicola Browne and Anna Wilkins put on 54 not out and 51 respectively in a third-wicket stand of 76.
The sixth round of matches will be played between the same teams at the same venues today.
- NZPA
