Wellington Blaze have snatched a one-run victory over Central Hinds to claim the women's Super Smash title at Auckland's Eden Park.
Defending only 90 after being bowled out for 89 runs batting first, the Blaze restricted the Hinds to just 88/5 in reply, and in doing so won the women's title for the fifth time in seven years.
The victory came on the back of a nervy final over bowled by former captain Sophie Devine (1/18), who defended nine runs - despite a dropped catch and missed run-out opportunity.
Captain Amelia Kerr led the way for the Blaze with 35 runs, and a miserly spell with the ball of 0/14 off her four overs.
Former Blaze-turned-Hinds batter Thamsyn Newton couldn't have the final say for her new side, and was left unbeaten on 27 from 42 balls as Wellington celebrated their triumph.
The loss leaves the Hinds waiting to end a now eight-year wait for a title, with their last competition win coming in the 2015/16 season.
After Wellington won the toss and chose to bat in their hunt for a fifth title in the last seven years, the Blaze's innings was hit by regular strikes from the Hinds.
In a rain-reduced 17 over innings, the Blaze could post just 89, with their final wicket falling with the last ball.
Only Amelia Kerr (35) passed 20 for Wellington, while Central seamer Rosemary Mair was her side's standout with figures of 4/5 from her four over spell.
In just the third over, the Blaze were hit by the loss of White Ferns captain Devine for five, who lost her middle stump as Mair's first wicket.
An over later, Rebecca Burns became the second batter to depart, when she was caught by Hollie Armitage, before rain interrupted the Hinds' charge.
Once play resumed, though, the Blaze's innings suffered loss after loss as no batter was able to support Kerr.
Ducks for Georgia Plimmer, out LBW to Mair, and Leigh Kasperek - bowled by Claudia Green - reduced Wellington to 24/4, before Kate Chandler limped to eight from 21 balls.
Jess Kerr added 12 from 10 balls as part of an innings-high partnership with her younger sister, albeit being 24 runs from 21 balls.
At 84/7 at the start of the final over, the pair of Kerr and Natasha Codyre (12) had one last chance to lift the Blaze closer to a defendable total, only to both fall to Mair within three balls.
And when Nicole Baird was run out on the final ball of the innings, the Blaze's spin-heavy attack would have just 90 to defend in the hopes of the title.
But chasing 90 for the title, the Hinds were suffocated by the Blaze's three-pronged spin attack.
In 11 overs, the trio of Amelia Kerr (0/14), Leigh Kasperek (1/21) and Xara Jetly (0/12) conceded just 47 runs in 66 balls, and left the Hinds with too much to do against Jerr Kerr and Devine.
English import Armitage got the Hinds' chase off to the perfect start with 21 from 17 balls, but fell caught and bowled to Devine to give the Blaze hopes of stealing victory.
Newton and captain Natalie Dodd (18 off 29) added 29 runs in 50 balls together, and left themselves too great of a mountain to climb at the death.
As Kasperek dismissed Dodd caught and bowled at the end of the 12th over, Hannah Rowe looked to re-ignite the chase with 12 from only 10 balls.
But needing 18 off 12 balls, Jess Kerr's (1/21) return saw the back of her White Ferns teammate, and left the Hinds needing 10 from the final over.
Having missed most of the season on an enforced rest break, Devine showed signs of rust by dropping Newton, but came back to show her composure in running out Mikaela Greig (six) off the arm of Plimmer.
And needing to hit three off the final ball, Newton couldn't connect with a wide delivery from Devine, as Jess McFayden broke the stumps to run out Green, and stop the Hinds' chances of running two to force a Super Over.
Auckland Aces host Canterbury Kings later on Sunday in the men's final.
Wellington Blaze 89 all out (A.Kerr 35; Mair 4/5)
Central Hinds 88/5 (Newton 27 not out; Devine 1/18)
Wellington win by one run
Wellington Blaze have snatched a one-run victory over Central Hinds to claim the women's Super Smash title at Auckland's Eden Park.
Defending only 90 after being bowled out for 89 runs batting first, the Blaze restricted the Hinds to just 88/5 in reply, and in doing so won the women's title for the fifth time in seven years.
The victory came on the back of a nervy final over bowled by former captain Sophie Devine (1/18), who defended nine runs - despite a dropped catch and missed run-out opportunity.
Captain Amelia Kerr led the way for the Blaze with 35 runs, and a miserly spell with the ball of 0/14 off her four overs.
Former Blaze-turned-Hinds batter Thamsyn Newton couldn't have the final say for her new side, and was left unbeaten on 27 from 42 balls as Wellington celebrated their triumph.
The loss leaves the Hinds waiting to end a now eight-year wait for a title, with their last competition win coming in the 2015/16 season.
After Wellington won the toss and chose to bat in their hunt for a fifth title in the last seven years, the Blaze's innings was hit by regular strikes from the Hinds.
In a rain-reduced 17 over innings, the Blaze could post just 89, with their final wicket falling with the last ball.
Only Amelia Kerr (35) passed 20 for Wellington, while Central seamer Rosemary Mair was her side's standout with figures of 4/5 from her four over spell.
In just the third over, the Blaze were hit by the loss of White Ferns captain Devine for five, who lost her middle stump as Mair's first wicket.
An over later, Rebecca Burns became the second batter to depart, when she was caught by Hollie Armitage, before rain interrupted the Hinds' charge.
Once play resumed, though, the Blaze's innings suffered loss after loss as no batter was able to support Kerr.
Ducks for Georgia Plimmer, out LBW to Mair, and Leigh Kasperek - bowled by Claudia Green - reduced Wellington to 24/4, before Kate Chandler limped to eight from 21 balls.
Jess Kerr added 12 from 10 balls as part of an innings-high partnership with her younger sister, albeit being 24 runs from 21 balls.
At 84/7 at the start of the final over, the pair of Kerr and Natasha Codyre (12) had one last chance to lift the Blaze closer to a defendable total, only to both fall to Mair within three balls.
And when Nicole Baird was run out on the final ball of the innings, the Blaze's spin-heavy attack would have just 90 to defend in the hopes of the title.
But chasing 90 for the title, the Hinds were suffocated by the Blaze's three-pronged spin attack.
In 11 overs, the trio of Amelia Kerr (0/14), Leigh Kasperek (1/21) and Xara Jetly (0/12) conceded just 47 runs in 66 balls, and left the Hinds with too much to do against Jerr Kerr and Devine.
English import Armitage got the Hinds' chase off to the perfect start with 21 from 17 balls, but fell caught and bowled to Devine to give the Blaze hopes of stealing victory.
Newton and captain Natalie Dodd (18 off 29) added 29 runs in 50 balls together, and left themselves too great of a mountain to climb at the death.
As Kasperek dismissed Dodd caught and bowled at the end of the 12th over, Hannah Rowe looked to re-ignite the chase with 12 from only 10 balls.
But needing 18 off 12 balls, Jess Kerr's (1/21) return saw the back of her White Ferns teammate, and left the Hinds needing 10 from the final over.
Having missed most of the season on an enforced rest break, Devine showed signs of rust by dropping Newton, but came back to show her composure in running out Mikaela Greig (six) off the arm of Plimmer.
And needing to hit three off the final ball, Newton couldn't connect with a wide delivery from Devine, as Jess McFayden broke the stumps to run out Green, and stop the Hinds' chances of running two to force a Super Over.
Auckland Aces host Canterbury Kings later on Sunday in the men's final.
Wellington Blaze 89 all out (A.Kerr 35; Mair 4/5)
Central Hinds 88/5 (Newton 27 not out; Devine 1/18)
Wellington win by one run
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