The Northern Spirit have proven too good for the Otago Sparks as they easily accounted for the Southerners in the Action Cricket Cup.
Northern looked to be in trouble with the bat in their 50 overs, before some tail-end heroics helped lift them to an 80 run victory.
Having won the toss Otago decided to bowl and would have been satisfied with their progress at the halfway point of the innings.
Opener Natalie Dodd looked in fine touch until she was caught leg before wicket on 25. Nicola Browne and Anna Peterson also made starts, but couldn’t stop Northern from falling to six for 86 in the 27th over.
It looked like Otago were going to have a low total to chase, but may have been guilty of getting ahead of themselves.
Morna Nielsen (79*) and Rhiana Vincent (41) put on an incredible 122 for the seventh wicket to lift Northern to 208 for seven after 50 overs.
Tanya Morrsion was one of the main reasons Otago had been in such a commanding position as she collected figures of three for 16 after 10 overs.
In reply the Spark’s batting line-up never truly fired. Suzie Bates was clinical on her way to 45, but didn’t find the required support from senior players like Kylie Crowley and Katey Martin.
Victoria Abbott (24) and Sarah Osborne (13) gave Otago a glimmer of hope towards the end of the innings, but buckled under the Spirit’s pressure and Otago were eventually all out for 138 in the 31st over.
Veteran Nicola Browne was devastating with the ball for Northern. She completed a fantastic individual performance with figures of five for 31 from 9.3 overs.
