Once the onslaught started, there was little the Otago Sparks could do to stop it.
Sophie Devine smashed 92 off just 62 balls to help the Blaze to 175 for four in Saturday’s Super Smash final in Hamilton.
It was a total the Sparks never threatened. They lost regular wickets and struggled to score freely as they were bowled out for 100, falling to a 75-run loss.
It was not altogether unexpected.
This was an unbeaten Blaze team with nine White Ferns and quality throughout.
The Sparks did not necessarily play any worse than any other game this season.
The Blaze was just far better and again showed it is a class above any other team in the contest.
Sparks coach Craig Cumming admitted Otago "came second", but was happy with elements.
He felt the team had been in the game when it picked up two early wickets and did well to deal with the pressure and stay composed on a big occasion.
Devine’s class and ability to respond had taken the game away, though.
"I was actually happy with how we bowled to her," Cumming said of Devine’s innings.
"She’s just got the ability on small boundaries to club her way out of trouble.
"We built dots on her and there were times you could sense it was hit out or get out. She was able to hit out and get them out of trouble.
"I was delighted with the way we stuck at it. When you considered they had, I think, eight sixes between her and Maddy Green, and the amount of boundaries they were able to hit, I thought in between that we did a good job. It was just too many."
The Sparks bowlers have been tough to get away all season, but the Blaze had no problem playing them.
Devine tonked them all around the ground, hitting five sixes and 10 fours on her way to a match-winning score.
The Sparks were given an early glimmer of hope, when Georgia Plimmer was caught for three by Suzie Bates off Hayley Jensen’s bowling.
It brought Amelia Kerr to the crease, and she was going along well on 20 when the Sparks claimed another big scalp.
She was hit in front of the stumps on the back foot, although possibly slightly high, by Sparks spinner Eden Carson.
It was perhaps a fortunate decision for the Sparks, but Kerr was given out and the Blaze fell to 60 for two.
But such is the depth of this Wellington team, it only brought another White Fern to the crease.
Maddy Green joined Devine and the pair promptly took the game away from the Sparks.
While Devine’s 92 will catch the eye, Green’s 55 from 35 balls was equally devastating.
They both lasted until the final over, when Emma Black claimed both wickets.
Polly Inglis made a positive start for the Sparks with the bat, before being caught behind on 13 in the second over.
Suzie Bates followed for three when she was caught on the boundary by Thamsyn Newton as she tried to attack Jess Kerr in the air.
That was essentially the final blow.
Katey Martin did her best to offer some resistance, although was removed by Devine for 16.
From there, the run rate slowed and wickets began to fall.
The game was well gone, although there were flashes of promise from Olivia Gain, Bella James and Emma Black, each reaching double figures as they attacked late in the innings.
Former Otago spinner Leigh Kasperek took three for 23 for the Blaze, while Devine claimed two for 14.
