Spinner Kirstie Gordon said it was good for the Otago Sparks to be put under pressure in the field, and coach Craig Cumming made a similar comment when chatting to the commentary team.
And, looking with an optimistic lens, maybe this was just one of those games the Sparks needed to test them as the playoffs loom.
The Sparks lost by 25 runs to the Auckland Hearts in Auckland yesterday.
They still stay at the top of the table, but the Sparks' net run rate has dropped back to 0.07 and they will want to improve that against Northern tomorrow.
Auckland, who have battled throughout the Super Smash season, made a lightning-quick start with the bat.
The Sparks, however, struggled to get going with the bat.
"I think they got off to a really good start in the power play," Sparks captain Hayley Jensen told the commentary team.
"Izzy [Gaze], in particular, took a nice liking to my bowling, which was unfortunate for us.
"I thought we scrapped really hard in the second 10 and I thought Blacky [Emma Black] was outstanding in the field. She saved a lot of runs out there."
Otago won the toss and elected to bowl.
White Ferns wicketkeeper Gaze was impressive and clipped 46 from 26 balls. She pumped five boundaries, including a big six, off the fourth over and set the tone for her innings.
Gaze and opening partner Saachi Shahri led Auckland through to 55 runs at the end of the power play.
With the Sparks under the pump, spinner Gordon finally made the breakthrough. Looking for another boundary, Gaze sent her delivery long and it was caught by Bates. Two balls later, Gordon bowled Shahri.
They set up a solid platform for experienced Lauren Down and Maddy Green. The White Ferns went about their work and finished with a partnership of 104.
Green finished unbeaten on 54 off 39 balls and Down was also unbeaten on 47 off 41 balls.
Auckland finished with 162 for two.
Gordon (two for 21) was the pick of the bowlers for the Sparks.
In reply, Sparks openers Bella James and Bates took time to find their groove.
Spinner Fran Jonas produced a maiden for her opening over and left Otago at 22 runs at the end of their power play.
Auckland picked up their first wicket when Molly Penfold caught James. Penfold followed up with her own wicket from her opening ball.
Olivia Gain looked threatening and came down the wicket, but the ball clipped the back of her pads to land on the stumps.
Caitilin Blakely started to pull things back, but she scooped a shot high and was caught. Felicity Robertson was run out soon after.
Polly Inglis was caught and bowled by Green, and the Sparks were 75 for six in the 14th over.
Anna Browning and Jensen added some nice boundaries at the tail end, but the Sparks finished on 137 for seven at the end of their innings.
AUCKLAND
S Shahri b Gordon 10
I Gaze b Bates c Gordon 46
M Green not out 54
L Down not out 47
Extras (1lb, 4w) 5
Total (for 2 wkts, 20 overs) 162
Fall: 1-57, 2-58.
Bowling: E Black 4-0-27-0 (1w), H Jensen 4-0-48-0, K Gordon 4-0-21-2 (1w), E Carson 4-0-37-0, F Robertson 1-0-10-0 (1w), A Browning 3-0-18-0 (1w).
OTAGO
S Bates c Pederson b M Penfold 8
B James c M Penfold b Catton 14
O Gain b J Penfold 9
C Blakely c J Penfold b Green 21
P Inglis c & b Green 8
F Robertson run out M Penfold/Gaze 5
A Browning not out 26
H Jensen c Green b Catton 21
K Gordon not out 19
Extras (1b, 1lb, 5w) 7
Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 137
Fall: 1-23, 2-25, 3-37, 4-59, 5-67, 6-71,
7-103.
Bowling: P Catton 4-0-27-2, B Illing 4-0-25-0 (1w), A Hucker 1.5-0-8-0 (1w), M Green 2.1-0-10-2 (1w),F Jonas 4-1-29-0, M Penfold 3-0-28-1,J Penfold 1-0-8-1 (2w)
Result: Auckland won by 25 runs
