WHITE FERNS legend Sophie Devine has blasted back into the spotlight in the Dream11 Super Smash with her best ever T20 career figures, at Hagley Oval this afternoon.
Devine's bag of 5/13 off her four overs against the Canterbury Magicians smashed her previous best performance in this format with the ball at either domestic or international T20 level - which until today had been her only T20 five-for.
It's also Blaze’s second equal best T20 individual performance with the ball, bettered only by Melie Kerr’s 5/10, and matching Kerr's 5/13 in second spot, both those achievements from last summer's title-winning season.
HOW THE HECK IS RIGHT?!
— Dream11 Super Smash (@SuperSmashNZ) January 24, 2025
Sam Mackinder with an extraordinary grab and Izzy Sharp has been dismissed!
The Magicians now 22-3.
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That 5/41 was for the Adelaide Strikers in the 2018/19 women’s Big Bash, across the Tasman, and today represents her first T20 bag on this side of the ditch in a key win for Wellington Blaze who are looking to lock in direct entry to the Grand Final at the Cello Basin Reserve, next weekend.
Devine struck in each of her four overs and finished off with a rare T20 double wicket maiden in the 17th, to help the defending champions Wellington Blaze throttle the Magicians to 101/8 at Hagley.
It left her previous Super Smash best haul of 4/21 in the dust as she set up a comfortable victory for her team, the Blaze chasing down the modest target inside 12 overs for a big net run rate boost to boot in an emphatic 10-wicket win, Devine able to put her feet up and watch the show without needing to bat.
The Magicians remain in fifth spot on the table at the business end of the comp, while the Blaze powered into the top spot - now equal with the Otago Sparks on 24 points, but ahead on net run rate that will rank the qualifiers should any of the top three teams finish on equal points.
With the Sparks and Blaze unable to be caught by anyone but Northern Brave, the two teams have now guaranteed their appearance at the Finals weekend in Wellington - but must wait to see who is in the Grand Final and who is in the 2v3 Elimination Final the day before, plus, which team will be joining them in the capital.
All images: PHOTOSPORT