A day after the Otago Sparks had finally pocketed their first One-Day win of the season, Northern Spirit had their revenge with a five-wicket win in round four — their first of the comp, and in heart-stopping style.
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That was despite an unbeaten century from Katey Martin, her second at domestic one-day level, that got the Sparks to a healthy 249/8 despite little support.
For the Spirit, Kate Anderson had a field day, taking four late wickets for her 4-32 off 10, and earlier getting a key run out by stopping Caitlin Blakely on 21.
The dangerous captain Suzie Bates had already departed and it took Martin to steady the ship, going on to an unbeaten run-a-ball 118 and finding late support from WHITE FERN Morna Nielsen, who clipped a quick 32.
If the Sparks fancied their chances of defending their total, Northern opener Natalie Dodd had other ideas and settled in for a solid 87, including seven boundaries, before she was caught in the 39th over off Bates.
Dodd had been supported by captain Brooke Halliday, the pair putting on 143 for the third wicket. Halliday thundered on to 73 before she was run out by Kasperek in the 45th over — and, at 209/5, the finish line still needed one last lunge.
Felicity Leydon-Davis’s unbeaten 27 off 19 balls provided it, combining with Nicola Hancock (22* off 29) in a lively last stand for the remaining 41 runs that saw them go at 10-plus for the final three overs, against the ilk of Bates and Nielsen to boot, for a memorable last-over finish with three balls to spare.
Round five of the Women’s One-Day Competition is on 3 January 2016, with matches at Molyneux Park, Alexandra (Sparks v Hinds); Hagley Oval, Christchurch (Magicians v Spirit); and the Basin Reserve, Wellington (Blaze v Hearts).
