Cricket: Sparks beat Canterbury

The Otago Sparks beat Canterbury by three wickets in their one-day match at Hagley Oval today.

England international Laura Marsh was the chief destroyer for Otago, claiming five wickets for 32 runs as Canterbury were bowled out for 187 off 48.5 overs.

Marsh tore through the middle-order, claiming wickets three through seven for Otago, including the scalp of dangerous opener Amy Satterthwaite.

Earlier Georgia Clarke got Otago off to a good start, taking the wickets of Frances Mackay and Corinne Hall in consecutive balls. She finished with three for 47, while Suzie Bates and Millie Cowan each took late wickets.

Canterbury were struggling at 89 for seven when Kirsty Nation and Lea Tahuhu offered some late resistance, scoring 40 and 41 respectively.

Bates and Caitlin Blakely got Otago's chase off to a good start, putting on 64 before Blakely was stumped. Bates went on to score 79, while Marsh showed her all-round credentials with 33 runs.

A late flurry from Frances Mackay, who took five for 25, gave Canterbury a glimmer of hope, but the win was beyond them.

Otago chased down the target in 46.4 overs, avenging yesterday's twenty20 loss.

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM