The State Otago Sparks have upset the State Central Hinds in the last round of the State League Twenty20 to record their first win of the season.
Batting first the Otago Sparks freed their arms and raced through to 178.
An opening partnership of 160 between Katey Martin and Suzie Bates set up the total.
Both batsmen were in devastating touch with Bates hitting and unbeaten 70 off 50 and Martin hitting 94 off 65. Martin’s innings included 13 boundaries.
None of the Central bowlers were spared with Kate Broadmore and Abby Burrow picking up one wicket each.
The Hinds chased hard and at 140 for one, with Sara McGlashan and Rachel Priest firing, looked like they might reach the target.
When McGlashan was dismissed for 43 in the sixteenth over and Priest in the eighteenth for 83, the Hinds couldn’t maintain the run rate fell short by seven runs.
Priest’s 83 came off only 53 balls and included nine boundaries and a six.
Suzie Bates backed up her outstanding batting with a fine bowling spell that saw her return figures of two for 29 off four.
The spin bowling of Tanya Morrison proved difficult to get away as she toiled away to end with one for 17 off four.
It is the end of the road for the State Central Stags who need to win the match to make the final. It was a consolation victory for Otago and gives them confidence going into the one day State League double header against Central this weekend.
