2024/25 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 4
Sunday 1 December 2024
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
OTAGO SPARKS defeated WELLINGTON BLAZE by 4 wickets
- bonus point win -
Otago Sparks : 5 points
Wellington Blaze : 0 points
All images: PHOTOSPORT
Defending champions the Otago Sparks remain the team to beat in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield after completing a fourth straight victory to start the season.
As they did on Saturday, the Sparks proved too strong for the visiting Wellington Blaze in Dunedin, chasing down the 193-run target with six wickets in hand and 11 overs to spare to secure another bonus point win.
Opener Bella James backed up her hundred earlier in the weekend with a breezy 46, and was supported by 54 from Caitlin Blakely and an aggressive 42 from 38 by Polly Inglis in the middle order.
Bella James | PHOTOSPORT
Spinners Xara Jetly (3-36) and Leigh Kasperek (2-46) were the best of the Wellington bowlers who in general struggled to contain the run rate as they looked to defend a below par total.
Xara Jetly | PHOTOSPORT
Earlier, it was 18-year-old opener Hannah Francis who top-scored for the Blaze with a patient 79, but the visitors lacked the firepower to post a total north of 200.
PHOTOSPORT
The Sparks all-round bowling effort was led by the experienced Hayley Jensen’s 2-28 from her 10 overs, along with returning WHITE FERN Eden Carson who claimed 2-34, while Chloe Deerness also grabbed a brace.
The bonus point win leaves Otago sparkling at the top of the table on 20 points while the Blaze sit at the bottom of the ladder with just the one win from the opening four games.
