The Otago Sparks have called in a little help from England spinner Laura Marsh for the rest of the season.
The Sparks are in fifth place in both the one-day and twenty20 competitions and will need all the help they can get if they are going to turn around what has been a disappointing season to date.
Marsh has been plying her trade for the Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash in Australia and was keen to pop across the Tasman and finish off her trip Down Under with a stint for Otago, Sparks coach Warren Lees said.
Marsh is a seasoned international, having played seven tests, 72 one-day internationals and 58 T20 matches for her country.
She has been called into the side to bolster the team's experience.
The 29-year-old will bat in the top half of the order and is expected to make an impact with her offspin.
"She is a very experienced player and a good international,'' Lees said.
"I feel as though we would end the season very disappointed if we finished fifth or sixth. We've had three very close games which we possibly should have won. Had we won those three close games we'd be second right now [in the one-day competition].
"Our girls have trained harder than they ever have before and we deserve more than where we are on the table.''
Otago resumes its T20 campaign against Canterbury at Hagley Oval today and will play back-to-back one-dayers at the venue over the weekend.
Depending on other results, Lees believes his side will need to win three of its remaining four one-day games to reach the final.
Auckland leads the competition with 21 points from Wellington (17), Canterbury (17), Central Districts (10) and Northern Districts (6).
Otago has nine points.
The chances of the Sparks making the T20 final are more remote. Otago is eight points adrift of Canterbury, which tops the standings with 12 points.
Otago Sparks
Team
Suzie Bates, Caitlin Blakely, Leigh Kasperek, Katey Martin, Laura Marsh, Polly Inglis, Victoria Abbott, Bella James, Millie Cowan, Morna Nielsen, Ella Brown, Georgia Clarke, Megan Gibbs.
