The Otago Sparks have one foot through the gate to the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield national one-day final after having defeated and overtaken the Auckland Hearts this afternoon in Dunedin.
Losing by four wickets today, the Hearts now need to bounce back in tomorrow's rematch to bump the Sparks out of that Final - or it's game over for their 2023/24 summer.
In a dramatic ninth round, the Sparks rose to the challenge today with their bonus point win, ultimately cruising to victory in just the 36th over after having rolled the Aucklanders for 125 in 32.5 overs and then suffering some early speed bumps themselves.
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Meanwhile in Wellington, cellar dwellers the Canterbury Magicians came close to upsetting competition leader Wellington Blaze - who still managed to squeeze a tough 19-run victory out of their low-scoring affair at the Cello Basin Reserve to stay top of the ladder.
The Blaze now leads the Sparks by four points, with the Sparks capable of snatching that coveted number one qualifying berth tomorrow.
The Magicians had routed Blaze's top order, dismissing all top five batters for single figures - opening bowler Jess Simmons picking up a career best 4/31.
But the Blaze's notorious spin attack made sure that they defended just 106, captain Leigh Kasperek snaring her seventh List A one-day bag with a superb 5/22 - her second five-for for the Blaze this season, and Xara Jetly tight in support with her 2/16 off 10.
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And in New Plymouth, a brilliant 7/35 from 20-year-old pace bowler Kayley Knight wasn't enough to stop the Central Hinds from beating Northern Districts - who fell 31 runs short at Pukekura Park.
Bowling first, Knight's startling maiden haul was the best in List A women's cricket by any ND bowler, and the fifth-best haul in by anyone in the history of the national competition (see list below).
The Hinds had elected to bat and reached only 158, and lost a key member of their bowling attack to during their batting innings with spinner Ashtuti Kumar unable to take further part in the game after a leg injury.
Yet the remainder of the Hinds' attack rallied together with the ball, backed up by top fielding to gut ND's batting line-up in response.
Captain and keeper Natalie Dodd had top-scored for the Hinds with 51 and went on to snaffle four catches as the Hinds dismissed ND for 127 in 33.4 overs, Claudia Green finishing the job with 3/44 in the dead rubber.
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Tomorrow's crunch 10th and last round of the double round robin begins at 10.30am at the same venues.
All matches are livestreamed at www.nzc.nz, on the NZC app, and on NZC YouTube; and livescored at www.nzc.nz and the NZC app.
Best bowling in Hallyburton Johnstone Shield
