Katey Martin is the Daniel Vettori of Otago women's cricket and she showed over the weekend she is relishing extra responsibility.
The Sparks made a promising start to the national competition by splitting a one-day doubleheader with the Auckland Hearts in Invercargill.
Otago beat Auckland by 12 runs in a rain-reduced thriller yesterday, following Auckland's five-wicket win on Saturday and twenty/20 win on Friday.
Martin (24) is captain, opening batsman and wicketkeeper for the Sparks this season, so she is never far from the action.
Watched by her father, Sparks manager and former Otago rugby coach Steve Martin, she scored three consecutive half-centuries over the weekend and even managed to take a wicket when she briefly handed over the gloves.
Martin's most important innings came yesterday when she made 61 before being run out in a game reduced to 43 overs a side.
Martin faced 73 balls and stroked four boundaries to anchor the Otago innings.
But support was hard to come by, with no other batsman passing 17 as the Sparks fell for 155.
Auckland was relatively well placed at 70 for one in reply before Emma Campbell struck with three quick wickets to turn momentum back in Otago's favour.
The Hearts inched towards victory but the Sparks kept breaking through and bowled Auckland out for 143 in the 40th over.
Martin also shone at the top for Otago on Saturday.
She cracked 74 off just 75 balls (12 fours) to anchor the Sparks' 184.
Sarah Tsukigawa (54 not out) was the other major contributor - she and Martin put on 77 for the third wicket - while Megan Kane added a useful 21.
Otago took early wickets and Auckland was looking a little shaky at 71 for four, before Megan Tremaine (47 not out) and Katie Perkins (46) spoiled the party and guided the Hearts to victory in the 46th over.
"Today was pretty pleasing. It was certainly our best performance with the ball," Otago coach Nathan King said.
"We've achieved the things we set out to do. We probably slightly under-performed on Saturday but today was pretty good."
King said he was delighted with Martin's wonderful start to the season and was confident other batsmen would follow.
"Katey's had a great three days. She's in very good early-season form.
"A couple of others got some useful runs as well. Now, if we can get one or two more contributing, we can start posting really competitive targets."
Otago now has to travel to Whangarei, where it plays Northern Districts in a twenty/20 game on Friday, then two one-dayers.