Cricket: Bates, Abbott shine in Sparks victory

Canterbury batsman  Meg Kendal edges the ball  past Otago wicketkeeper Katey Martin during their...
Canterbury batsman Meg Kendal edges the ball past Otago wicketkeeper Katey Martin during their one-day match at Brooklands Park in Mosgiel yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Suzie Bates and Victoria Abbott ganged up on Canterbury to help guide the Otago Sparks to a comprehensive six-wicket win in a one-dayer at Brooklands Park yesterday.

Abbott helped set up the victory with her maiden five-wicket bag as Canterbury slipped from 133 for two to be all out for a reasonably competitive 184.

In reply, Bates paced the innings, compiling a patient undefeated 102 as Otago overhauled the target in the 49th over.

The win has cemented Otago's position at the top of the competition table. The teams play again today and a win for Otago would enable the home side to book a berth in the final.

Bates' ton came off 133 balls and featured just six boundaries. Recent wet weather in the region meant the pitch played slowly and outfield reduced crisply-hit shots to a crawl.

Patience was the order of the day and Bates was happy to occupy the crease and accumulate runs.

''She batted doggedly and fought very hard to get through to the end,'' coach Warren Lees said.

''She was determined that we were going to get there and it took until the 49th over. But she saw it through and she had a very good partnership with Katey Martin, which really set it up.

''It was a good win because Canterbury is a good side and, historically, we've never performed that well against them.''

Bates combined in a 55-run opening stand with Sarah Tsukigawa (22) and added 126 with Martin for the second wicket.

Martin was trapped in front for 44 with victory in sight. Leigh Kasperek was run out for two in the same over. Then Polly Inglis was undone before she could add to the team score and get her own under way.

Those hiccups aside, it was a good chase from Otago. The same cannot be said for its fielding effort.

Too many catches went down. Wellington could have been dismissed for as little as 120 if the catches had stuck.

Still, the Sparks chipped away and a flurry of wickets fell in the last 10 overs.

Abbott was the chief beneficiary. She took five for 38 from her 10 overs.

When Amy Satterthwaite, playing in her 100th game, was stumped for 42 from the bowling of Emma Campbell, the Canterbury innings lost its poise, and it went into freefall when Abbott bowled Hayley Jensen five overs later.

She struck again in the same over, removing Janet Brehaut. And in her next over, she caught and bowled Erin Bermingham.

She helped mop up the tail, bowling No 9 Natalie Cox and No 10 Kirsty Nation.

''She bowled really well. She bowled straight and got the ball to seam around a little bit. She went under the bat a couple of times to bowl a couple of people. It was a very good effort from her.''

Bates, who took two for 30 from 9.1 overs, picked up the last wicket to fall.

Meg Kendal top-scored for Canterbury with 68 - her highest score.

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