2020/21
ROUND TWO
Canterbury Magicians beat Otago Sparks by 133 runs - bonus point win
Centennial Park, Oamaru
22 November 2020
The Canterbury Magicians turned in a perfect card for the opening weekend of Hallyburton Johnstone Shield action, pocketing another bonus point from the weekend's twin wins against hosts the Otago Sparks.
The strong starters sit below the Hinds on table on net run rate only, equal on 10 points.
Batting highlight of the day for the Magicians was again Kate Ebrahim, the powerful strokemaker backing up the previous day's unbeaten century in Round One with another influential half century.
Needing to take charge after the early loss of Frances Mackay, Ebrahim top-scored with 62 off 80 balls in Canterbury's total of 222/8 after Mackay had elected to bat at Oamaru's Centennial Oval.
A superb effort with the ball then saw the Sparks fall a hefty 133 runs short, new Magicians recruit Kate Sims claiming 3-25 and Sarah Asmussen a stunning 4-9 off four overs - both career best performances as they dismissed the hosts for just 89 in 28 overs.
The Sparks will head further south to Invercargill looking for better luck against the Auckland Hearts in two weeks' time, while the Magicians will head in the opposite direction to Whangarei's Cobham Oval where they will be keen to keep flying up the table when they meet unbeaten Northern Districts.