Central Districts' women overcame the trauma of losing New Plymouth teenager Toni Street, who returned home on Monday after hearing news of her brother's death in a farm accident, with a "fantastic effort" in their State League match with Canterbury at the Village Green today.

"Yesterday was a very, very difficult day for the girls," CD coach Paul Unwin said.

"It was gut-wrenching for them and for a lot of them they had no idea of how to deal with that situation."

Central lost a dramatic game on Monday after Nicole Thessman (64 not out) could only take a single to third man off the final ball to fall one run short of Canterbury's total of 191.

"To have any chance of making the final we had to win today," the former CD spinner Unwin said.

His team stopped Canterbury women's run of nail-biting wins at a blustery Village Green today, avenging Monday's brave defeat with an 18-run win in Christchurch in the final match of the first round.

"We had a little bit more desire and a little bit more understanding," Unwin told CricInfo.

Having been put in, Central's Cindy Forsyth (26) and former White Fern Kate Pulford (24) helped the visitors to 65/2 at 20 overs, but Haidee Tiffen had Pulford stumped by Emily Travers then ran out Aimee Mason one run later to leave the visitors struggling at the halfway point.

However, CD captain Megan Graham (31) and international Erin McDonald (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to record the two highest innings and the only 50 partnership of the match to give Central a defendable total.

Canterbury openers Paula Flannery and Nicola Payne again went early. On a pitch full of small cracks where the ball was keeping low a Melissa Murray slow-medium scuttler bowled Delwyn Brownlee and soon afterwards caused Tiffen to give a diving caught and bowled chance to leave Canterbury at 78/5. In between Murray had removed Fiona Fraser, stumped from an off-side wide.

Promising Beth McNeill was run out after a mini-recovery and although the tail gave Canterbury hope, the home side never really had a chance after the loss of four wickets for 32 in mid-innings.

When Canterbury's last pair, Rebecca Steele and Hannah Rae got within 20 runs of Central's score another tense finish looked possible.

Yesterday, CD's Thessman needed three to win off the last ball, but attempted only a single and Canterbury scraped home by a run, 191 to 190/7. On Sunday Canterbury's 121 was just too much for Wellington, who failed in the 49th over, three runs short.

Central, who, like Canterbury, had their first game washed out, "fielded on both days better then the Cantabs," Unwin said, and this made a key difference today.

Canterbury coach Vicki Burtt said, "the middle order coming in so early created a bit of pressure. We just need to get the top order firing really."

Canterbury head north at the weekend to play champions Auckland, then on to Hamilton to play Northern Districts.

Central have a week's break before facing the same teams at Masterton.

© CricInfo