Sparks keep stamping mark

This could have been a practice run for the national Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final, but instead the Central Hinds squandered their last chance to ink in a spot in the big one.

With the Sparks thumping Central twice in the last two of these regular season rounds - and the Auckland Hearts meanwhile snatching two crucial wins in Christchurch, the Hinds were bumped down to third on the ladder, missing the Final by two points.

While it represented a big improvement on last place in the Dream11 Super Smash, it was a disappointing end for the Hinds, while the Sparks kept the pressure on as their Finals prep continued.

Hinds captain Mikaela Greig was missing from this match due to a family commitment, Hannah Rowe taking over the captain's armband and electing to bat first.

With spinning allrounder Ashtuti Kumar carrying the drinks, the Hinds brought in uncapped Taranaki pace bowler Grace Foreman on debut, remaining without their injured strike weapon Rosemary Mair for crucial games.

The Sparks were meanwhile strong with bat and ball, Hayley Jensen leading the attack with 22-year-old Harriet Cuttance - the latter in just her second List A match.

Cuttance had two in her opening spell, including the form left-hander Flora Devonshire who had rescued her side from a spot of bother on more than one occasion.

Jensen meanwhile continued Thamsyn Newton's woes and before they knew it, the Hinds were three down inside the first dozen overs.

It was left to a couple of veterans to find a partnership, Kerry Tomlinson (39) and Hannah Rowe (32) putting on 50 exactly for the fifth wicket.

But that was about it as the visitors got that sinking feeling yet again.

They were all out for 124 after limping through to the 37th over, PJ Watkins wrapping up the innings in a hurry with her 3/4 off just 2.4 overs.

The Sparks were in position for a quick chase, but the Hinds weren't going hom without a fight. Hannah Rowe (3/47) struck twice in the first four balls of the chase, removing both Sparks captain Felicity Robertson - fresh off a ton - and Caitlin Blakely for no score.

At 0/2, the Sparks had a wee shock to recover from, but recover they did thanks to PJ Wilson and Polly Inglis pulling together an 84-run stand for the third wicket.

Ocean Bartlett broke the partnership in the 15th, and struck again with Saffron Wilson on her way a few balls later, but by now the Sparks were already well into their tame target, at 84/4.

More wickets fell to keep it interesting. Rowe accounted for fellow WHITE FERN Jensen cheaply, and Devonshire picked up a brace with her left-arm spin.

But the seventh wicket fell when the scores were level, and the Hinds' hopes crushed.

The dominant Sparks would meanwhile not be denied a chance to warm up in style as they set their sites on defending their national one-day title this Saturday at their same home ground.