The 23-year-old Otago wrist spinner is shaping as a key cog in a Sparks’ line-up which leads the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
They can extend that lead with a win against the Northern Brave in Dunedin this weekend.
The teams are playing back-to-back games at the University Oval.
They start with a one-dayer tomorrow and a T20 on Sunday.
Oldershaw will be one of the players to watch. The Dunedin physiotherapist has started the season strongly.
She nabbed a career best three for 16 in a T20 game against the Central Hinds late last month to help clinched an eight-run win.
The right-armer also bowled tightly during the 61-run T20 win against the Brave last Friday.
She sits just below team-mate Hayley Jensen and Wellington’s Melie Kerr on the list of leading wicket-takers.
She has also struck some good form in the one-day competition. Her haul of five wickets at an average of 27.80 represents great value as well.
Not bad for a player listed as bowling leg break who seldom bowls that delivery.
‘‘My stock ball is definitely the wrong’un,’’ she said.
‘‘Very occasionally the leggie will come out but I find it very difficult to actually bowl a proper leg spin ball.’’
‘‘I did once get a consistent leg spinner going but I lost my wrong’un, so I thought I’d rather have that wrong’un.’’
At 1.80m tall, she can get some awkward bounce. She also varies the seam position and her pace and bowls the top-spinner as well. But that leg break delivery, well, it is at the top of her New Zealand Cricket profile page but that is pretty much the only time it gets an outing.
Oldershaw started playing the sport when she was ‘‘10 or 11’’.
‘‘Back then I lived in Christchurch and around the corner from a cricket club.
‘‘My brother started there and I just followed him.
‘‘I started off as a medium pace bowler but my dad suggested trying something a little bit different as a point of difference for selection and that type of thing.
‘‘So we tried spinning and that is how it kind of started.’’
Oldershaw moved to Dunedin to study in 2016 and made her debut for the Sparks the following year.
The Sparks have endured a few leans years but have been boosted by the arrival of Kate Ebrahim and White Ferns Suzie Bates and Katey Martin have been more available this season.
The team snapped a two-year losing streak in the one-day competition this season and the mood in the camp is great. The team is winning.
‘‘Hopefully we can keep that going until the end of the season.’’
As for her own form, she is thrilled with how it is tracking.
She is getting wickets and getting them cheaply. What more could you ask?
‘‘I just need to keep building on that and be mindful when I’m coming up against potentially the stronger batsmen in Canterbury and Wellington.’’
