They had. The H-bomb was called Hockley. Debbie Hockley, New Zealand women's captain, launched herself in a one-woman demolition job on the hapless Aucklanders in the State Insurance Cup provincial final on Saturday.

Hockley blasted the Auckland bowlers to all points of the picturesque ground in reaching 141 off 129 balls to propel Canterbury to its 20th national title win in 21 years.

Auckland was dismissed for a paltry 65 - less than half Hockley's individual total - and lost by a massive 167 runs.

A gracious captain Kathryn Ramel stated the obvious at the presentation ceremony.

``Canterbury completely outshone us today,'' she conceded.

There are few sporting occasions Cantabrians relish more than a whitewash against Auckland.

But it was impossible not to feel sorry for Ramel and her side, which had a one-win one-loss record against Canterbury in the lead-up to the final.

Auckland simply struck a cricketing phenomenon in Hockley and a proud Canterbury team determined to retain its near-monopoly on the national title.

Even Canterbury coach Lindsay Thorn said the team's performance was ``even better'' than he had hoped for against an Auckland team boasting six New Zealand representatives.

Thorn had set his side a target of 200 in a 50-over game.

But the match started late after overnight rain seeped into the pitch, and the contest was reduced to 40 overs.

Sent into bat after Auckland won the toss, Canterbury exceeded the goal set by Thorn, amassing a total of 232 for five wickets to set a record for a national limited-overs game.

The Hockley-inspired batting blitz was followed by some tight-fisted bowling and outstanding catching in the field as the Auckland batters tumbled like nine-pins. ``That was a sensational effort from Debbie, and when we bowled, Katrina (Withers), Missy Moffat, and Debbie really put the acid on,'' Thorn said.

Moffat snared three wickets for six runs off 4.2 overs, Hockley completed a memorable double with three for 11 and Withers, who troubled all the Aucklanders with her pace and accuracy, grabbed four for 14.

Canterbury's cause was aided by some splendid catches, particularly by Lisa Astle and youngsters Jo Lawler and Haidee Tiffin.

But Dudley Park was Hockley's individual arena.

She slammed 13 fours and a six and brought up her century off 107 balls with a stylish boundary.

All the Auckland bowlers suffered from the onslaught as Hockley mesmerised the crowd with her power and precision.

She ran singles and twos intelligently and hit a four from a stationary ball, which had slipped from bowler Zoe Plummer's grip in mid-delivery.

Hockley and Paula Flannery put on 52 for the first wicket and she joined Helen Watson (29) in an 88-run stand for the fourth. Fatigue finally beat Hockley when she was run out in the 40th over, with only two balls left in the innings.

Within minutes she was back at her post in the slips, directing the Canterbury field, and she entered the bowling attack in the ninth over to spell Withers from the northern end.

Required to score at almost a run-a-ball rate, Auckland never came within cooee of Canterbury's (or even Hockley's) score.

Any hope disappeared when dangerwoman Emily Drumm departed for 26, caught in the deep by Tiffin off the bowling of Hockley, who summoned enough energy to sprint to congratulate her young team-mate.

Auckland was teetering on the brink of disaster at 47 for five before a 14-run stand by Rebecca Rolls and Claire Nicholson.

But the Aucklanders lost their last four wickets for four runs as Withers and Moffat mopped up the tail-enders, leaving Canterbury to collect the cup, and the champagne.