Suzie Bates continued her sparkling form with the bat as the Otago Sparks eclipsed the Auckland Hearts by 31 runs in their women's Super Smash match in Auckland.
Otago Sparks batter Suzie Bates on her way to a match-winning innings against the Auckland Hearts in the women's Super Smash. Photo: Photosport
The men's match was a far closer affair, finishing in a tie at the same Eden Park Outer Oval venue.
It was more comfortable earlier in the day, when White Ferns veteran Bates blazed to 76 off 59 balls to steer the visitors to 159-3 off their 20 overs.
Her fluent knock came five days after another match-winning performance - a century against Northern Brave in Queenstown.
Auckland's reponse matched the drizzly conditions, never getting impetus as they limped to 128-9 in response.
Bates was the dominant partner in a 127-run partnership with Kate Ebrahim, who finished unbeaten on 45.
Auckland's Fran Jonas produced the game's best bowling figures of 3-20 but only Saachi Shahri (40 off 38 balls) surpassed 25 in the run chase.
The Sparks leapfrog the Hearts on the competition standings, climbing to third place while the Hearts dip to fourth.
The Otago Volts and Auckland Aces both scored 174-8 in their dramatic clash which came down to the final ball.
Dean Foxcroft stood out for Otago in their innings, cracking 69 off 56 balls.
The visitors looked to have done enough to defend their score with Auckland entering the final over needing 18 to win, with three wickets in hand.
Will O'Donnell struck two boundaries off Matt Bacon to leave the teams level with one ball remaining but he couldn't force victory, instead run out when attempting a single.
- RNZ
