Relentless Sparks lock in another Final

The Otago Sparks have become the first team to qualify for the 2024/25 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-day final, after their seventh straight bonus-point win from seven rounds so far this season.

The southerners' outrageous winning streak continued (under new coach Shawn Hicks, taking the reins from Craig Cumming) at the Auckland Hearts' expense as the one-day championship resumed, the Sparks shaking off the disappointment of losing the Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final to the Blaze six days earlier.

Their WHITE FERNS stars were to the fore, but as usual from the Sparks, it was sprinkled with key contributions. 

Hayley Jensen snaffled 4/22 to stand out with the ball, and the maestro Suzie Bates carried her bat for an unbeaten 87* off 94 balls in the clinical chase.

The Sparks chased down their target of 187 in just 33.1 overs at a sweltering Kennards Hire Community Oval, and all this after Hearts captain Maddy Green had won the toss.

Although Jensen removed Prue Catton early, the Hearts did get a start of their own. Saachi Shahri continued her good form this season with a knock of 44 in a 72-run stand for the second wicket with her skipper, who almost matched her with 43.

But it was the sole substantial partnership of the innings, and that cost the Hearts after Jensen won her battle with Green and the attack started zeroing in on regular wickets.

The Sparks, with their testing attack, have a knack of tempting their opponents to chip up catches, and Bates caught three of them.

Bates's half century was her 70th in all List A cricket, and she found the boundary 10 times as she led the way to victory and the bonus.

Fran Jonas and Amie Hucker both picked up a brace, but the question remains - can anyone beat the defending champions in this format in 2024/25?