They dispatched Central Districts by six wickets at the University Oval today.
Emma Black set up the win with a four-wicket haul to help restrict the visitors to 107 for seven.
Left arm spinner Linsey Smith made a key contribution with two wickets at the top, while Suzie Bates slapped away a series of boundaries against a quality attack to help run down the tally.
The shot off the front foot through cover off Rosemary Mair was text book perfection.
But on 44 she made an error. She had to reach for the ball and scooped it to Georgia Atkinson.
The damage was done, though.
Felicity Robertson (20 not out) hit a four down to long-on to clinch the win with more than three overs spare.
The Sparks move to 20 points with a game remaining. Wellington (28 points) have sealed top spot and will host the grand final.
And despite the loss, Central Districts (22 points) have booked a playoff appearance.
The Sparks can nab second place and a home venue for the elimination final with a win against Northern Districts in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Northern are still in the hunt. If they beat Auckland tomorrow and tip up Otago on Tuesday, they will play Central in the elimination final.
Black, who was astray early and dished up three consecutive wides in a marathon opening over, was thrilled with her return of four for 17.
"I got a lot of inswing today. I think the conditions suited me with the humidity around."
Getting on target was the biggest challenge. But once she got her radar working, the wickets tumbled.
"It was about how quickly I could adjust.
"It is just about clearing your mind and going again. You can’t get down just over three wides."
English left-armer Smith was on target immediately, though. She bowled Hollie Armitage (4), who got cute and tried a reverse lap but missed and had to make the humbling walk back to the player’s observation area.
Georgia Atkinson also fell victim to the former international. She swiped the ball to mid-on, where Molly Loe was waiting to take a comfortable catch.
The Hinds landed in further trouble when Mikaela Greig (1) sliced a delivery from Black to Eden Carson at point, and Flora Devonshire (6) found the fielder at mid-on on the full.
At 18 for four the Hinds were in damage control. They desperately needed a partnership and got it with debutant Emma McLeod and Mair showing some resolve.
Mair swung the ball away to the rope at mid-wicket enough to keep the Sparks on edge. And she slapped the ball over cover to bring up the 50 run partnership off 54 balls.
The pressure had shifted to the Sparks and Carson responded, floating a delivery up and spinning it past the swinging bat of McLeod.
That ended a valuable knock of 23. The Hinds had a platform to launch from for the last five overs.
Hannah Rowe looked threatening but scooped a delivery from Black to Bella James at mid-wicket.
Black captured her fourth moments later when Mair tried to lap the ball and was bowled for 32.
Claudia Green’s undefeated cameo of 15 helped the Hinds side slip past 100. But it was 20 or so short of a more competitive target.
