Photo Credit: Auckland Cricket
The Auckland Hearts have bidden an emotional farewell to their heart and soul veteran Arlene Kelly ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.
With dual Kiwi and Irish nationality, allrounder Kelly is off to represent Ireland at her first World Cup, but her selection also spells the end of a superb 10-year career with the Auckland Hearts.
“Thank you, Arlene,” said Auckland Cricket on their social media channels after the team’s incredible three-run victory over the Northern Brave at Mount Maunganui.
“Since her debut in 2012/13, Arlene has played over 200 List A and T20 matches, taking more than 150 wickets and hitting over 1500 runs. #legend”
In the Dream11 Super Smash alone, right-armer Kelly finishes with 76 caps for the Hearts, and 66 wickets and a T20 best of 4-28.
The popular 29-year-old Aucklander has represented Ireland in eight ODIs and 16 T20 Internationals since debuting last year, in a bid to make her first World Cup appearance.
Primarily a bowling allrounder, Kelly will also always be remembered for her maiden one-day century for the Hearts in the amazing NZC Hallyburton Johnstone Grand Final in March 2020, scoring 110 at first drop in a match-winning total of 322/5 against Northern Districts in Hamilton.
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
