Canterbury held on to win by seven runs in a tense finish to the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield fixture.
But the Sparks sure have transformed. They have gone from easy-beats to title contenders with two strong performances against the defending champion at the weekend.
The Sparks have started the summer with three wins from four, which is some achievement considering they had strung together a losing streak of 21 games in the format.
Yesterday did not go their way, though.
Abby Gerken smashed her maiden century to guide Canterbury to a formidable tally of 282 for seven.
She swatted 13 fours in her knock of 108.
That left Otago chasing a daunting revised target of 286 from 49 overs.
The Sparks were restricted to 278 for six but it was a tremendous chase.
Suzie Bates (62) and the in-form Kate Ebrahim (56) got the Sparks off to a cracking start with a partnership of 104.
The platform was set for White Ferns Hayley Jensen and Katey Martin to shine.
The pair put on 107 at better than a-run-a-ball to set up a tense final three overs.
Jensen made a punishing 76 but came unstuck with victory in sight.
Otago needed 25 off the last three overs to win and could not quite manage that many.
Martin was left undefeated on 60. Incredibly, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has now scored 240 runs in the competition this season without getting out.
On Saturday the Sparks registered a bonus-point win against Canterbury thanks to a solid bowling effort and chunky partnership between Ebrahim and Caitlin Blakely.
Strike bowlers Emma Black and Molly Loe got on top of Canterbury early.
The dangerous Frankie McKay was bowled by Loe in the second over and Black picked up the key wicket of the classy Amy Satterthwaite for 13.
Satterthwaite broke the New Zealand record for most list A appearances by a woman in the game.
She brought up her 302nd one-day match to go past Sara McGlashan’s tally.
Otago spinners Eden Carson (three for 24) and all-rounder Jensen (two for 33) kept the brakes on with some tight bowling.
Canterbury limped through to 197 all out in the 45th over.
Otago’s reply got off to a poor start. Bates was out for a duck in the opening over of the chase.
But Ebrahim continued on with her impressive form this season and anchored the innings with a patient knock of 66 from 104 balls.
She had wonderful support from Blakely, who swatted 10 fours on her way to 63 from 70 deliveries.
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Martin made sure the side secured the bonus point with a quick 20 not out.
In the other two games, the Central Hinds achieved comfortable wins against the Northern Brave in Levin.
The Sparks lead the competition standings with 19 points.
