2022/23 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
ROUND ONE
Saturday, 19 November 2022
Cobham Oval, Whangarei
NORTHERN DISTRICTS beat OTAGO SPARKS
by 47 runs DLS (DLS)
Bonus point victory
Points this round: ND 5, Sparks 0
Selected Milestones
Marama Downes - List A debut (ND)
Yasmeen Kareem - List A debut (ND)
Eve Wolland - List A debut (ND)
Kate Ebrahim - 4000 List A runs
Kate Ebrahim - sixth List A century (first for Otago Sparks)
A Kate Ebrahim century has gone in vain for the Otago Sparks after a weather-affected opening round of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
The veteran former WHITE FERN was last season's runaway top run-scorer in the one-day format by a margin of 145 runs, with a top score of 96* not out in 2021/22.
Now this summer, already she has raised the bat with an unbeaten 100* at the top in Whangarei yesterday, carrying her bat and underpinning the Sparks' good total of 238/8 after having been sent in by hosts Northern Districts.
And yet it would prove not enough against a fresh-look Northern Districts side that had three debutantes in the mix, afterthe hosts had lost the likes of their own powerhouse top order star, Kate Anderson, to Canterbury during the off-season.
However, it was a timely return for former WHITE FERNS and South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout who opened the batting for ND.
All images: PHOTOSPORT
The rejuvenated Bezuidenhout contributed 62 not out in the winning DLS chase for ND in her first match since January 2020, after having taken a break from the game to focus on health.
Ebrahim had had little support from her teammates in the first innings, as Northern Districts captain Brooke Halliday meanwhile had a good day with the ball, taking 4-41.
But when it was ND's turn at the big ground, Bezuidenhout and Halliday combined for the solid unbroken second-wicket stand that ensured the hosts overcame the quick loss of Caitlin Gurrey at 7/1.
Afternoon rain saw ND's target reduced, and the good start ensured a good first-up victory for ND who will meet Otago again in the second round on Sunday at the same venue.
