A virtual elimination final has come a week early for Otago.
The Sparks will host Central Districts at the University of Otago Oval and the winner will clinch the remaining playoff spot.
The game would not have been so crucial for the Sparks had they not been docked a half-point for a slow over rate in the win against Northern Districts late last year.
But that penalty means the Sparks are in fourth place on 15.5 points, with two games remaining.
The Hinds are on 16 points, but will complete their round-robin matches today.
A win is worth four points, so victory for the Hinds will see them book the playoff berth regardless of what the Sparks do in the game they have in hand.
Wellington (36 points) is undefeated with nine wins from nine games and has secured a home final, while Auckland (24 points) has secured a home venue for the actual elimination final with a 13-run win against Northern Districts (eight points).
Canterbury (four points) is out of contention.
While the Sparks’ season hangs in the balance, the team can feel confident going into the match.
It has rebounded from a slow start to the tournament to win its last three matches.
One of those was a very healthy win against Central Districts at McLean Park.
Half centuries from Millie Cowan and Hayley Jensen helped Otago post a formidable total of 181 for three.
Spinner Eden Carson took a career-high five for 18 to help seal a 72-run win.
It is a large margin to overturn in the space of just over a week, so the visitors will start as underdogs.
But the Hinds have a dangerous top order. Former White Fern Natalie Dodd is the team’s leading scorer with 262 runs at an average of 32.75, while the hard-hitting Jess Watkin has 257 runs an at whopping strike rate of 160.62. She smashed a 26-ball half century to help defeat Auckland at Pukekura Park late last year.
Central Districts also have a very decent bowling unit. White Ferns duo Hannah Rowe (eight wickets) and Rosemary Mair (seven wickets) will ensure the Sparks have to work hard for every run.
But Otago arguably has more match-winners, and none are more potent than Suzie Bates.
The classy opener is the competition’s leading scorer. She has clobbered 430 runs at a strike rate of close to 140.
When she fires, Otago tends to win. But Katey Martin, Cowan and Jensen have all made telling contributions with the bat, while import Amanda-Jade Wellington has a phenomenal strike rate of 182.22.
She has made a big impact since joining the Sparks for the second half of the tournament, and not just with the bat.
She has nabbed seven wickets in three games with her big-turning leg spinners. Fellow Australian import Hannah Darlington has also found some form with the ball, while medium pacer Emma Black looks a good long-term prospect.
