Northern Districts savour history-making Hallyburton Johnstone Shield title
Sunday, 22 February 2026
At Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington: Northern Districts 182 all out in 44.4 overs (Holly Topp 39 off 61; Melie Kerr 3-49 off 10, Nicole Baird 2-22 off 6.4, Hannah Francis 2-28 off 5, Jess Kerr 2-32 off 10) beat Wellington Blaze 115 all out in 41.1 overs (Isla McKenzie 32 off 70; Marama Downes 3-26 off 10, Kayley Knight 2-20 off 7, Jess Watkin 2-25 off 10) by 67 runs.
More than a quarter of a century since they first entered the fray, Northern Districts women are finally savouring the sweet taste of success, after an historic maiden title triumph.
Captain Jess Watkin labelled it a “pretty surreal” feeling after her side crushed the perennial powerhouse Wellington Blaze by 67 runs in the final of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-day competition in the capital on Saturday.
The trophy, first played for way back in the 1935-36 season, now has a new name etched on it, with ND, who joined the women’s domestic scene in the 1999-2000 season ending a long dry spell.
Despite their improvements in the Super Smash, with playoff appearances the past three seasons, ND haven’t featured in a final in the 19 editions of the T20 competition, while their only other appearance in the 50-over decider had been in 2020 where, as top qualifers, they were beaten by Auckland, incidentally by the exact same 67-run margin as they won by this time round.
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After finishing last, second-to-last, and last, the past three years, it represented one heck of a turnaround, not least against a Blaze side who while hadn’t won the shield since 2022-23, have enjoyed a hat-trick of T20 titles, and who featured such star-power as newly-named White Ferns captain Melie Kerr.
“I’m just really proud of the girls,” said a delighted Watkin, who, in her third season after her move from Central Districts, knew just how much this would mean to the association.
“It’s massive. We’ve got a few stalwarts of the side, [Caitlin] Gurrey’s played over 100 games now for ND, to do it for them and do it for our programme [is special].
“I think our programme has taken a turn over the last four or five years, so I think it’s a real testament of that and all the work our coaches and high-performance team have set up for us. So really happy to do it for the association and all our supporters.”
Former Dutch international Peter Borren was in his third season as coach of the side, while Luke Pomfret was last November appointed the organisation’s new performance coach and female talent lead.
It was a performance that showcased ND’s tenacity and belief, in what was ironically a ‘home’ game for them, as top-qualifiers, with the Basin Reserve hosting a finals weekend of men’s and women’s domestic 50-over action.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, things didn’t exactly go smoothly for ND, whose first seven partnerships couldn’t tally more than 24, as Kerr (3-49 off 10 overs) and sister Jess Kerr (2-32 off 10) ripped through the lineup to have them teetering at 94-7.
However, wicketkeeper Holly Topp managed to occupy the crease for an hour and a half and eke out a boundary-less 39, with No 9 Downes adding 25, in knocks which managed to at least get ND through to 182, all out in 44.4 overs.
In the end, their relatively low total proved plenty enough, as Marama Downes (3-26 off 10) dismissed both Kerr stars cheaply and had Wellington collapse to 33-4.
And they just never recovered. No 8 Isla McKenzie top-scored with 32, but it was all in vain, as off-spinner Nensi Patel (1-20 off 10) and seamer Kayley Knight (2-20 off 7), both fresh off White Ferns call-ups for the upcoming Zimbabwe series, also played pivotal roles, with the Blaze bundled out for 115 in 41.1 overs.
“In the field we knew that we had to start really well, and take the big wickets of the Kerrs, obviously, and Georgia Plimmer… we knew that if we could get them early that we were in with a good shot,” said Downes, the 23-year-old in her fourth season with ND who was now soaking up a title-winning feeling.
“I just think it’s incredibly special to be a part of, and I think the girls have worked really hard this season and the last few seasons, so I guess the hard work has finally paid off, which is amazing,” she said, feeling the key to breaking the duck was just a bit of trust and confidence.
“Honestly, I think it’s a bit of belief. We’ve got a coach and support staff that really back us. And our team’s really young, so just the belief that we have around the group right now is incredible, and we all get along really well which I think is evident on the field as well, which helps.”