2023/24 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 1
Saturday, 18 November 2023
Cello Basin Reserve
WELLINGTON BLAZE lost to OTAGO SPARKS by 7 wickets
BONUS POINT WIN
Otago Sparks: 5 points
Wellington Blaze: 0 points
Selected milestones
Monique Rees : Wellington Blaze debut (previously Central Hinds)
Gemma Sims : Wellington Blaze debut (previously Central Hinds)
PJ Watkins : Otago Sparks debut
Images | PHOTOSPORT
Two teams that had both lifted the trophy in the past two seasons went head-to-head in the first round of New Zealand's one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shieldat the Cello Basin Reserve - but it was a one-sided contest as the Otago Sparks got their summer off to a flier.
After captain Felicity Robertson (née Leydon-Davis) won the toss and put the Blaze into bat, the Sparks never looked back.
The skipper was in the action from ball one, taking the catch off flying pace bowler Emma Black who removed dangerwoman Jess McFadyen with her very first delivery of the season.
Black struck again in her second over, Robertson again with the catch, as WHITE FERN Georgia Plimmer departed for just one. Then Gemma Adams had another quick big wicket in Rebecca Burns.
The tone was set for a Sparks wicketfest to open their account in 2023/24.
The wickets just kept coming for the Sparks, at regular intervals, the Blaze left reeling at 26/7 after just 14 overs of the one-day match.
Tailender Monique Rees - one of two Blaze debutantes acquired over the winter from the Central Hinds, fought together with Nicole Baird (above) for the eighth wicket, achieving the only partnership of the innings, putting on 42 together.
But it was never going to be easy to retrieve the innings from there and, after captain Robertson herself broke their stand, the Blaze was soon all out for just 92 in 31.2 overs.
Black finished with outstanding figures of 4/12 from her set of 10 overs, while Robertson (2/12 off four overs) and Eden Carson (2/11) wrapped it up.
The defending champions were always going to be in for a hard time defending such a low total, but they made an exciting start as Tash Codyre struck with her third delivery - to have the Sparks 0/1.
Gain was gone and Codyre added the wicket of Caitlin Blakely in her opening spell.
Powerful Bella James | PHOTOSPORT
But that brought Robertson (38 not out) to the crease, with power-packed Bella James (29).
The skipper stayed there for the rest of the innings, ultimately getting the team home with Polly Inglis for a bonus point victory, in just the 27th over.
A dream start for the Sparks who will be back at the Basin to try to do it all over again tomorrow, while the Blaze needs to bounce back fast.
