One measly run was all that stood between the Otago Sparks and their first points in twenty/20 cricket this summer.
The Sparks made 125 for seven in pursuit of Wellington's 126 for eight at Molyneux Park in Alexandra on Thursday.
Otago suffered two early blows in its chase when in-form captain Katey Martin (one) and international Suzie Bates (nine) were dismissed cheaply.
But Sarah Tsukigawa (23 off 18 balls) and Megan Kane (42 off 39) got the ball rolling, and Emma Campbell (17 off 17) did her best at the death.
The Sparks did not help themselves by having no fewer than five batsmen run out.
Earlier, Wellington had seemed poised for a massive total thanks to the early efforts of Lucy Doolan (48 off 48 balls) and Sophie Devine (48 off 37).
But Otago got back into the game through some tight bowling from Tsukigawa (three for 21 off four) and Bates (two for 23 off four).
The Sparks have lost all three of their twenty/20 games and sit at the bottom of the table.
But they have been faring much better in the one-day competition, where their record of three wins, two losses and one no-result has them in second place.
Otago's next stop is in Masterton for a twenty/20 (tomorrow), followed by two one-dayers (Monday and Tuesday) against Central Districts.
