Otago Sparks suffer first defeat in 14 months

After a costly injury to WHITE FERN Suzie Bates early in the game, defending champion the Otago Sparks have been beaten in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield for the first time in 14 months.

The Auckland Hearts did the deed with a 24-run win at Auckland’s Kennards Hire Community Oval, bowling out the Sparks for 234 as they set after the Hearts’ 258/8, with a woman down.

After having top-scored with 87 in yesterday’s match — a six-wicket win to the Sparks that secured entry to the 1 March Final in Dunedin, Bates was unable to bat today, having left the ground for treatment of a finger injury sustained as she was fielding in the deep early in the first innings.

Until today, the Sparks had had a spotless record in this season’s competition, and the remaining 10 players fought hard to keep it that way.

Captain Felicity Robertson top-scored with 80, and WHITE FERN Eden Carson — better known for her spin exploits, pulled a knock of 54 out of the hat: Carson’s List A one-day career best, and just her second half century as the Sparks tried valiantly to chase down their target.

But the Hearts had rising star Bree Illing who snaffled 4/49, taking the last four wickets — including Robertson’s — striking twice in the space of two deliveries, and dismissing the Sparks (nine down, with Bates absent) in the 49th over.

Earlier, Hearts captain Maddy Green had led the way for the hosts with 76, and WHITE FERNS continued to step up for their Domestic teams as Izzy Gaze supported with her career best 63 in the biggest partnership of the Hearts’ innings.