The Otago Sparks have been knocked out of contention in the twenty20 competition following a humbling 10-wicket defeat to Canterbury at Hagley Oval yesterday.
The Sparks reached a paltry 85 for nine - a total Canterbury overhauled with consummate ease as openers Amy Satterthwaite (42) and Frances Mackay (40) made light work of the modest chase.
Otago needed to win to give itself an opportunity of reaching the final but the loss has left it stranded in last place with one win from four games.
The win means Canterbury has secured a home venue for the final with Wellington (10) and Central Districts (8) still in contention for the remaining berth.
Having elected to bat, Otago's innings started to unravel with the early departure of Suzie Bates in the third over. She was bowled by Lea Tahuhu for six.
Leigh Kasperek, another key contributor in the Otago batting line-up, followed shortly after. This time is was Thamsyn Newton who delivered the blow, bowling Kasperek, also for six.
Newton then turned her attention to England international Laura Marsh, bowling Marsh three deliveries later. Marsh was making her debut for the Sparks.
Otago had slumped to 26 for three and kept losing wickets at an alarming rate. Only opener Katey Martin was able to occupy the crease for any reasonable length of time.
Martin add 32 before Newton also snuck a delivery past her defence to pick up her third wicket.
Morna Nielsen (10 not out) was the only other Otago player to reach double figures in a sorry scoreboard.
Newton's three for 13 was the highlight but Tahuhu grabbed the all-important wicket of Bates.
Otago will have to rebound quickly as it has to play Canterbury in back-to-back one-day games at Hagley Oval this weekend.
