With now just two rounds remaining, the Sparks kept Northern Spirit winless for the season with a 39-run victory set up by WHITE FERN Katey Martin’s 96 in a tally of 251 all out.
With Suzie Bates having got the Sparks off to strong start with 45 at the top, the Northerners did well to bowl out the hosts in the 49th over, Carolyn Estherhuizen picking up four wickets.
The Spirit then got off to a strong start themselves, Katie Gurrey (32) and Alisha Rout (57) putting on 72 for the first wicket — but the breakthrough by Bates triggered a succession of regular wickets with Sam Curtis (48 at six) and Estherhuizen (32 at eight) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
The wickets were shared around the Sparks attack with Northern bowled out in the 45th over for a 39-run win.