Aorangi Oval shines on first to bat

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It was a weekend for batting first at Aorangi Oval.

The Canterbury Magicians played the Otago Sparks in two women's 50-over warm-up cricket games at the Timaru ground on Saturday and yesterday.

The two games had five current or former South Canterbury cricketers playing for the two sides, with three playing for Canterbury and two for Otago.

On a batting-friendly wicket, chasing sides struggled in the two games to get near their target.

In the first game on Saturday, Otago batted first and made 216 for eight, with Megan Kane scoring 68 not out and opener Katey Martin making 63.

Canterbury's Amy Rendel took four for 39 from her 10 overs.

In reply, the hosts were rolled for just 160, with three Otago bowlers snaring two wickets each.

Yesterday, Canterbury were looking for revenge, and batted first, scoring 249 for three off their 50 overs. Amy Satterthwaite scored her first century for the red and blacks, making 107, and was well supported by Timaru's Amber Boyce who scored 81 not out.

Otago seemed daunted by the target, and were rolled for 127.

The pick of the bowlers was Rendel, who took three for 27 off her 8.5 overs and Satterthwaite, who capped a fine game, taking two for 22 off seven overs.

The two teams will start their domestic campaigns in twenty-20 mode.

Canterbury will take on Wellington, in Christchurch on December 4, and Otago will host Auckland, in Alexandra, on December 5.