2024/25 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD
Round 5
Saturday 14 December 2024
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
OTAGO SPARKS defeated NORTHERN DISTRICTS by 37 runs (DLS)
- bonus point win -
Points in this round:
Otago Sparks 5
Central Hinds 5
Wellington Blaze 4
Auckland Hearts 0
Northern Districts 0
Canterbury Magicians 0
SELECTED MILESTONES
Suzie Bates: 75th List A half century
All images: PHOTOSPORT
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SNAPSHOT: It's becoming a familiar refrain, but can anyone beat the defending champion Otago Sparks in New Zealand's national women's one-day championship?
Halfway through the regular season, the defending champions maintained a perfect report card, banking their fifth straight bonus-point win from round five of the 10-round regular season.
Now a fat 12 points ahead of their nearest challenger, the Sparks already have one foot in the 1 March 2025 Final - at their home ground, the same place they lifted this national title last summer.
Long gone are the days of Otago being one of the perennial stragglers in NZC women's competitions, and they showed why with a clinical chase to maintain total control over a slightly weather-affected match at Uni Oval against Northern.
The Sparks brushed aside ND's best efforts with a 37-run DLS victory, making things tough from the outset with their tight bowling, Northern fighting for 176/8 from 43.2 overs in the rain-shortened innings.
Stylish former WHITE FERN Caitlin Gurrey top-scored for the visitors with 43, among a string of contributions in the top order.
Sparks openers Bella James (47 not out) and Suzie Bates (51 not out) brought home the victory without seeming to raise a sweat, nor losing a wicket.
Another bonus point win in the bag, just like that for the clear competition frontrunners.
