State League final this Saturday

Top qualifiers the State Canterbury Magicians will meet the State Auckland Hearts in Saturday's State League final to be played at Redwood Park in Christchurch.

State Canterbury Magicians coach Vicki Burtt said:

"We are delighted to be playing in the final. We have beaten the State Auckland Hearts twice already this season and we're looking forward to competing well in the final. We have chased targets effectively all summer and are applying a lot of pressure with our bowling. We will be looking to finish the season on a high note on Saturday. It's time for the trophy to return to Canterbury."

The final will be played at Redwood Park, the same ground where the two teams met in round three of the State League. The State Canterbury Magicians won both those matches, by two wickets and wickets wickets respectively.

Defending champions the State Auckland Hearts have had a mixed season, losing both round matches to the State Canterbury Magicians and their last round robin match against the State Wellington Blaze.

The State Canterbury Magicians' New Zealand representatives Haidee Tiffen and Nicola Payne are both in fine batting form, Payne heading the State League batting table with 382 runs at an average of 54.57. Tiffen has scored 203 runs at an average of 40.60.

The State Canterbury Magicians bowling line-up has also dominated the competition, with Beth McNeill leading the attack (18 wickets at an average of 12.83). The rest of the State Canterbury Magicians bowling attack includes Sarah Burke, Hannah Rae, Helen Daly and 18-year-old left arm spinner Rebecca Steele who made an impressive international debut for the TelstraClear White Ferns in the recent World Series of Women's Cricket.

The State Auckland Hearts batting is based around TelstraClear White Ferns captain Emily Drumm who has scored 303 runs at an average of 60.60, whilst Natalee Scripps is second on the bowling table with 17 wickets at an average of 11.58. In the last round of the competition Scripps took 6-19 against the State Wellington Blaze, the second-best bowling performance in State League history.

The State League final is the pinnacle of the women's domestic calendar. Admission is free and the match starts at 10.30am.

Factfile:

Teams:

State Auckland Hearts (one to be omitted):

Michelle Lynch (captain)
Kelly Brown
Angela Coyle
Emily Drumm
Paula Gruber
Ros Kember
Elfriede Komp
Debbie Ramsay
Rebecca Rolls
Kelly Scott
Natalee Scripps
Ana Soma
Helen Watson

Coach: Wally Stamp
Manager: Liz Allan

State Canterbury Magicians:

Haidee Tiffen (captain)
Sarah Burke
Selena Charteris
Kirsty Craig
Helen Daly
Maria Fahey
Rowhan Kelly
Beth McNeill
Rowan Milburn
Nicola Payne
Hannah Rae
Rebecca Steele

Coach: Vicki Burtt
Manager: Kay Gilray