In glorious conditions at the University Oval, the Sparks fell to an eight-wicket loss in the Super Smash game.
The win cemented a New Zealand record for the Blaze, winning 17 consecutive games. It surpassed the previous record the Wellington women set from 2018 to 2020 with 16 wins.
White Ferns stars Suzie Bates and Melie Kerr were the stand-out performers for their respective teams.
Bates notched up 75 for the Sparks, while Kerr helped the Blaze sail home with an unbeaten knock of 73.
After losing opener Olivia Gain early, the Sparks opted to mix up their top order and brought in the experience of Hayley Jensen to pair with Bates.
They showed from the start the Sparks were determined to be aggressive with the bat.
Bates, as always, steadied her side’s innings, and hit a couple of nice boundaries early.
Jensen hit her next shot down the leg side straight to Rebecca Burns and headed back to the sheds, leaving the Sparks 29 for two.
Bella James then came to the crease, also moving up from her usual middle-order spot.
She picked up where Jensen finished with some aggressive shots before she too sliced a ball in the air to Burns for her second catch of the day.
With the Sparks in trouble at 46 for three, Bates pulled the trigger.
She swept her first six of the day with a stunning shot off a Caitlin King ball and followed up with a four off the next.
The trusted partnership of Kate Ebrahim and Bates made an impact in the middle again.
They combined for 49 runs for the fourth wicket.
Ebrahim whacked a ball in to the hands of Jess Kerr for her second catch. However, Ebrahim stood her ground, signalling she was not out from bowler Xara Jetly’s no ball, forcing the umpires to check.
She was sent packing for 16 runs when it was deemed fine and the Sparks were 102 for four.
As the Blaze looked to shut down the innings, it made a big breakthrough with the wicket of Bates.
The Sparks captain hit the ball high and long but Melie Kerr moved into space nicely to take the catch.
Bates finished with another brilliant knock of 75 from 56 balls, including eight fours and one six.
Felicity Leydon-Davis (13) — the only player other than Bates or Ebrahim to reach double digits — made a nice cameo at the end, but her side finished with a moderate 127 for nine.
Nicole Baird was the best of the Blaze bowlers, taking three for 23, and Jess Kerr, Jetly and Leigh Kasperek took two wickets each.
The Sparks were about 20 runs shy of what would have been the target and it looked to be an easier total for the Blaze to chase down.
Emma Black, who returned to lead the bowling attack after missing the previous match due to Covid, made the Sparks’ breakthrough in the third over.
She bowled Thamsyn Newton (7) with a beautiful ball that ripped out the off stump.
Melie Kerr entered the game and combined with Burns to make inroads.
Burns (32) smacked one six and two consecutive fours off a Blakely over. She was finally taken in the ninth over when she hit an Ebrahim ball high and Blakely got under it.
It left the Blaze at 58 for two but still in a comfortable position.
Melie Kerr was in some form, taking the reins for her side with some aggressive running.
The Sparks struggled to restrict the visiting side’s run rate and Melie Kerr continued her form, smacking 10 fours and finishing unbeaten on 73 off 54 balls.
Maddy Green (15) also chipped in for the Blaze as it sealed victory in the 18th over.
A moment of silence was held before the game for former New Zealand cricketer Bruce Murray, who died aged 82 last week. He was the grandfather of the Blaze’s Kerr sisters.
Sparks
O Gain c J Kerr b Baird 1 (5)
S Bates c A Kerr b Kasperek 75 (56)
H Jensen c Burns b Jetly 6 (9)
B James c Burns b Kasperek 9 (11)
K Ebrahim c J Kerr b Jetly 16 (20)
P Inglis c McFadyen b J Kerr 6 (5)
C Blakely c Bolvin b J Kerr 0 (2)
F Leydon-Davis c J Kerr b Baird 13 (9)
E Carson not out 1(1)
E Black b Baird 0 (2)
Extras 0
Total (for 9wkts, 20 overs) 127
Fall: 1-5, 2-29, 3-46, 4-95, 5-104, 6-104, 7-121, 8-127, 9-127.
Bowling: J Kerr 4-0-16-2, N Baird 4-0-23-3, L Kasperek 4-0-28-2, X Jetly 3-0-21-2, A Kerr 4-0-24-0, King 1-0-15-0.
Blaze
T Newton b Black 7 (8)
R Burns c Blakely b Ebrahim 32 (29)
A Kerr not out 73 (54)
M Green not out 15 (18)
Extras (2lb, 2w) 4
Total (for 2wkts, 18.1 overs) 131
Fall: 1-3, 2-58.
Bowling: E Black 3-0-22-1 (1w), H Jensen 4-0-19-0 (1w), E Carson 3.1-0-24-0, S Oldershaw 2-0-17-0, C Blakely 1-0-15-0, K Ebrahim 3-0-20-1, S Bates 2-0-12-0.
Result: Wellington won by eight wickets
