The Sparks were in the driver’s seat for what could have been their first win this season against the Wellington Blaze, the Super Smash defending champions, but the pesky misty rain had the final say.
The game at the University Oval was abandoned.
After keeping the Blaze to 143 for seven with the bat, the Sparks were in the prime spot as they headed out for their chase.
Bella James and Felicity Robertson made a perfect start, finding the right areas and pushing hard for twos.
James cracked a lovely shot to clear the boundary through the off side and Robertson edged another.
Both teams worked their way through the small rain showers that swept through the ground with little bother.
But then the rain became too heavy as the players headed back to the sheds with the Sparks 25 without loss after the fourth over.
Earlier, the Sparks could not have asked for a better start with the ball.
Blaze opener Georgia Plimmer was removed for five, Eva Gray produced a maiden with her opening over and Rebecca Burns, who struggled to get going, was run out.
It put the visitors 15 for two in the fourth over.
Blaze captain Jess Kerr teamed nicely with Hannah Francis to pull their side back from danger.
They found the boundaries and pushed hard to keep their chances alive.
They provided a 65-run partnership before the Sparks struck again.
Strike seamer Emma Black bowled Kerr (39) and Francis (34) scooped her shot to Robertson at cover.
That made the Blaze 87 for four as the Sparks started to get on top. They were excellent with the ball and brought the field up inside the circle to really pressure the Blaze’s new batter.
Trying to attack, Xara Jetly came down the wicket but found herself caught out and was stumped by Polly Inglis.
The Sparks missed a couple of chances with some poor fielding and leaked runs to flatter the Blaze’s total.
Jess Simmons put some fire behind the Blaze’s total, smacking a career best 24 off 12 balls.
She was dismissed by a brilliant catch from Caitlin Blakely who came running in off the boundary.
The Blaze finished on 143 for seven, a fine total considering what they could have been defending mid-way through their innings.
Black had figures of three for 31 and Browning took two for 17.
The Blaze remain top of the women’s Super Smash table, while the Sparks sit fourth.
The Sparks are home again on Sunday to the Northern Brave.
