Opener Kate Anderson smacked an unbeaten 66 off 49 balls to guide her side to a nine-wicket win over the Sparks at Hagley Oval yesterday.
The Sparks, who were without Laura Harris and Anna Browning, lost two wickets early with the bat, and the Magicians ran away with 113 runs before the visitors snatched a wicket.
The Sparks sit fifth on the table and now face a must-win game against Central on Saturday — as well as needing other results to fall their way — before next week’s playoffs.
Defending 141, the Sparks made a strong start with the ball, but Magicians openers Kate Anderson and Naomi Stalenberg found their form in the third over.
Anderson lofted one down the ground and Stalenberg whacked another boundary.
Stalenberg pulled hard through the legside and powered down the ground.
Anderson also ramped up. She swung away through the leg side and struck it well to the boundary.
Anderson whipped one off the back foot through extra cover and ran another away for her first half-century this season off 37 balls.
Stalenberg went across her crease to find the space through the legside then flicked another away, and the Australian brought up her half-century off 39 balls.
The Sparks finally made a breakthrough when spinner Chloe Deerness bowled Stalenberg to make the Magicians 113 for one in the 14th over.
Izzy Sharp punched 23 off 17 balls to move to the top of the Super Smash ladder for runs with 218.
It helped the Magicians wrap up at 145 for one in the 17th over.
Anika Todd, on debut for the Sparks, bowled well, conceding just 16 runs.
Earlier, the Sparks shook off early troubles to get through to 147 for seven.
Eva Gray hit 28 off 21 in a nice cameo at the back end of the innings.
Opener Felicity Robertson collected a boundary before being bowled in the opening over.
Replacement Caitlin Blakely did not last long, meeting a similar fate the next over to put the Sparks 10 for two.
Opener Bella James paired with PJ Watkins as they set out to repair the early dent in their order.
Watkins was in nice touch, using her feet to get down the wicket and her power to clear the ropes.
Australian spinner Lauren Smith put one past Watkins, who got the finest edge to be caught behind by Abigale Gerken.
It left the Sparks at 43 for three in the eighth over.
The Magicians starved James of the strike, but when she faced the ball, she was the danger hitter.
Unfortunately, she perished just past the halfway mark after she was stumped by Gerken, leaving the Sparks 63 for four.
Inglis flicked a leading edge back to bowler Sarah Asmussen as the Sparks teetered at 74 for five after 13 overs.
Gray timed her shots and was key in the latter overs.
Olivia Gain tried to get up but was caught at mid off to put the Sparks 98 for six.
Gray guided some exquisite shots and was striking it nicely, and the Sparks pumped 39 off the final three overs to help them through to 141.
Asmussen finished with two for 14 and Missy Banks took three for 32.
• The Volts clash against the Canterbury Kings was abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet weather at Hagley Oval yesterday.
Both teams secure two points as a result.
It is a frustrating result for the Volts, who sit fourth on the men’s Super Smash table, and have just the one round-robin game left as they chase a spot in the top three before the playoffs next week.
The Volts meet the Central Stags, who sit fifth, in Napier on Saturday.
SPARKS
F Robertson b Banks 4 (4)
B James st Gerken b Asmussen 21 (19)
C Blakely b Cornelius 5 (7)
P Watkins c Gerken b Smith 16 (23)
P Inglis c & b Asmussen 15 (16)
O Gain c Anderson b Banks 16 (18)
E Gray c Tahuhu b Banks 28 (21)
E Black not out 19 (10)
A Todd not out 5 (2)
Extras (8lb, 4w) 12
Total (for 7wkts, 20 overs) 141
Fall: 1-4, 2-10, 3-43, 4-63, 5-74, 6-98, 7-127
Bowling: M Banks 4-0-32-3 (1w), S Cornelius 4-0-27-1 (2w), L Smith 4-0-29-1, L Tahuhu 4-0-31-0, S Asmussen 4-0-14-2.
MAGICIANS
K Anderson not out 66 (49)
N Stalenberg b Deerness 51 (41)
I Sharp not out 23 (17)
Extras (4lb, 1w) 5
Total: (for 1wkt, 17.5overs) 145
Fall: 1-113.
Bowling: E Black 4-0-25-0, E Gray 2.5-0-25-0, L Kotkamp 3-0-24-0 (1w), P Watkins 4-0-30-0, A Todd 2-0-16-0, C Deerness, 2-0-21-1
Result: Magicians won by nine wickets.
