Sparks shine ahead of shield final

Otago captain Felicity Robertson bats during a Hallyburton Johnstone Shield game against Central...
Otago captain Felicity Robertson bats during a Hallyburton Johnstone Shield game against Central Districts at the University Oval on Saturday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
The Sparks collected wins eight and nine and will roll into the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final full of confidence.

They dispatched Central Districts by 129 runs on Saturday and secured a three-wicket win against the same opponent at the University Oval yesterday.

The defending champions have won nine out of their 10 round-robin games.

The final is in Dunedin on Saturday.

They will play Auckland, who leapfrogged Central Districts on the competition standings thanks to back-to-back wins against Canterbury at Hagley Oval.

The Sparks are in hot form but do have a few injury concerns.

Key bowler Emma Black was struck in the head during a training session and missed both games against the Hinds. She is expected to be fit for the final.

All-rounder Anna Browning has concussion symptoms and it is unclear whether she will be available.

Both openers are also under an injury cloud. Suzie Bates has a fracture in her little finger and is a 50-50 prospect, while Bella James picked up a muscle strain.

Sparks captain Felicity Robertson, who was not immediately available to interview after yesterday’s game, opened in the absence of Bates and posted her third list A century.

She looked unlucky to be given out first ball yesterday, but her form is another example of players stepping up when needed.

Yesterday, her bowling attack did a wonderful job.

They struck at regular intervals which put a big dent in what was possible for the Hinds.

Hannah Rowe (32) and Kerry-Anne Tomlinson (39) added 50 for the fifth wicket, the only meaty partnership of the innings.

Hayley Jensen and Harriett Cuttance bowled well at the top.

Cuttance, playing in just her second game for the Sparks, was rewarded with two scalps.

She nicked off opener Georgia Atkinson for nine and yorked Flora Devonshire (2) to send her leg stump cartwheeling.

Jensen trapped experienced Thamsyn Newton for lbw before she could open her account.

Eden Carson got a delivery to bite and turned it past the defence of Emily Cunningham (20) to leave the visitors teetering at 55 for four.

Rowe and Tomlinson mounted some resistance but their departure ushered in a rapid demise.

Left-arm spinner PF Watkins ran through the lower order, three for four from 2.4 overs.

The Hinds’ tally of 124 looked awfully modest but Rowe removed Robertson first ball of the innings.

She did not look convinced she got a tickle to a ball slipping down leg — the umpire was.

Caitlin Blakely got trapped in front fourth ball of the innings.

The Sparks were two down without registering a run.

But Polly Inglis counterattacked. She hit Claudia Green for back-to-back boundaries and Saffron Wilson drove Rowe down the ground for four to long on.

The two road bumps at the beginning of the innings disappeared from view in the rear vision mirror rather quickly.

The pair put on 84 before Inglis holed out at mid-on for 38. Wilson followed shortly after for 42.

But the finish line was in sight and PJ Watkin help them get there with 19.

On Saturday, the Sparks cruised to a comfortable win on the back of Robertson’s 110.

Inglis scored a career-high 97 to help the home team post a challenging 283 for six.

That was way too many for the Hinds, bowled out for 154.

Chloe Deerness (a career-best three for 33) and Jensen (two for 18) bowled tightly.

 

Central Districts

G Atkinson c Inglis b Cuttance 9

E Cunningham b Carson 20

T Newton lbw Jensen 0

F Devonshire b Cuttance 2

K Tomlinson run out (Loe) 39

H Rowe c&b Robertson 32

K Gaging b Watkins 3

C Green not out 9

O Bartlett run out (Deerness/Inglis) 1

J Ogden c Robertson b Watkins 3

G Foreman b Watkins 0

Extras (lb 1, w 5)6

Total (all out, 36.4 overs)124

Fall: 1-18, 2-25, 3-29, 4-55, 5-105, 6-108, 7-111, 8-118, 9-124, 10-124.

Bowling: H Jensen 7-1-21-1 (2w), H Cuttance 7-0-21-2 (2w), E Carson 5-0-22-1, C Deerness 4-1-16-0, F Robertson 5-0-18-1 (1w), M Loe 6-0-21-0, PJ Watkins 2.4-0-4-3.

 

Otago

F Robertson c Gaging b Rowe 0

S Wilson c Tomlinson b Bartlett 42

C Blakely lbw Rowe 0

P Inglis c Green b Bartlett 38

P Watkins c Green b Devonshire 19

O Gain c Gaging b Devonshire 9

H Jensen c Gaging b Rowe 8

E Carson not out 2

C Deerness not out 1

Extras (lb 1, w 5)6

Total (for 7 wkts, 25.3 overs)125

Fall: 1-0, 2-0, 3-84, 4-85, 5-110, 6-122, 7-124.

Bowling: H Rowe 10-0-47-3, C Green 3-0-21-0, F Devonshire 7.3-2-28-2 (5w), O Bartlett 4-0-22-2, J Ogden 1-0-6-0.

Result: Otago won by three wickets.

 

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