Cricket: Sparks' heroics just in vain as Wellington sneaks home

Suzie Bates
Suzie Bates
A mighty effort went without reward yesterday.

Classy Otago Sparks all-rounders Sarah Tsukigawa and Suzie Bates combined in a 141-run opening stand to help their side reach 167 for three in a twenty/20 match against Wellington at Barton Oval.

The pair were then called on to bowl the death overs when the match got dramatic at the end. They almost pulled it off, too.

Tsukigawa removed the dangerous Sophie Devine in the penultimate over to give the Sparks half a sniff, after Devine's superb innings of 40 from 23 deliveries had set her side on course for a victory.

A boundary from Elizabeth Perry undid some of the good work, leaving Wellington needing just three runs to win off the last over.

Bates was given the ball and made the home side fight for every run. A dot ball, a single and panicked run out and another dot ball did little to ease the pressure.

Perry worked a single leaving Amanda Cooper to hit the winning run and complete a five-wicket win.

It was bitterly disappointing for the Sparks but spare a thought for Tsukigawa and Bates. Tsukigawa was in grand form with the bat, stroking nine fours and a six in her innings of 70 off 52 deliveries.

She was too expensive with the ball but picked up the key wickets of Devine and England international Sarah Taylor (42 off 27).

And Bates was just as brilliant. She whacked four fours in an impressive innings of 71 and, while she failed to pick up a wicket, she bowled tightly, conceding just 22 runs from her allotment of four overs.

Their efforts proved to be in vain but Otago will have a chance to even the score when the sides meet in a one-day match in Wellington today.

Otago 167 for three (Sarah Tsukigawa 70, Suzie Bates 71, Michelle Bunkell two for 17) lost to Wellington 168 for five (Lucy Doolan 44, Sarah Taylor 42, Tsukigawa two for 43).

 

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