Defending champions the Otago Sparks are finally on the Women’s T20 board after stand-in captain Katey Martin led the way with a smashing half century in the round three women’s tournament in Lincoln.
Hard hitting Martin’s 51 from 46 deliveries helped ensure a crunch six-wicket win over Northern Spirit as she joined forces with fellow WHITE FERN Leigh Kasperek (27) in a 66-run third-wicket stand that all but took care of their target of 127.
Earlier, tall Kate Heffernan (1-17) continued her sharp form from the National Under-21 tournament while England import Beth Langston (2-28) also helped restrict Northern Spirit to 126 for five, bowling Bernadine Bezuidenhout after the former South African keeper-batsman came in down the order and belted 32 from 28 balls.
WHITE FERN Felicity Leydon-Davis would top-score for the Spirit with 35 as they built a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket after dangerous first drop Sam Curtis had been removed for a quick 21.