Just one game remains for the Otago Sparks to salvage some pride from what has been a wretched season.
Otago plays table-topping Canterbury in one last twenty/20 game in Christchurch today.
The game is effectively meaningless, with Canterbury guaranteed to host the final and Otago assured of finishing with the wooden spoon.
But the Sparks will see it as one final opportunity to get a win, just their third in a 15-game summer of struggle.
The last weekend of the season was always going to be tough for Otago and so it proved, with Canterbury winning Saturday's twenty/20 game, by two wickets, and yesterday's 50-over clash, by 10 wickets.
Otago simply did not bat well enough yesterday, slumping to 70 all out from 37 overs.
Only Lisa Grant, with a determined 33, and Susie Burrows (18 off 52 balls) showed any fight.
Canterbury's bowlers all prospered, with Frances Mackay's three for 12 off six overs the highlight.
Mackay then starred with the bat as Canterbury cruised to victory without loss inside 16 overs.
Mackay hit five boundaries in her unbeaten 36, while Mandie Godliman was on 26 at the other end when the final run was scored.
Otago put up more of a fight in Saturday's twenty/20 game, with its bowlers doing everything they possibly could to get the win.
Batting first, the Sparks had posted a competitive total of 102 for seven at Redwood Park.
The top three batsmen all got starts, with Katey Martin top-scoring with 30 off 37 balls, fellow opener Suzie Bates chipping in 28 off 44, and Lisa Grant posting 19 off 20.
In reply, Canterbury struggled to get on top of an excellent Otago bowling attack.
Young left-armer Kate Stiven bamboozled the Magicians with a fine spell of four for 16 off her four overs, while Tanya Morrison bowled with accuracy to finish with one for nine off four.
Amy Satterthwaite top-scored for Canterbury with 40 off 36 balls and, while she received little support, it was enough for the home side to reach the target with five balls to spare.
