The defending Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champions came up three runs shy in a dramatic rain-affected match against Northern Districts in Whangarei yesterday.
The home side posted 218 for nine.
But a couple of weather interruptions left the Sparks chasing 202 from 41 overs.
Caitlin Blakely (35 not out) and Anna Browning (39) added 75 from 85 balls for the sixth-wicket.
The pair needed 13 runs from the final two overs. That looked well within their grasp.
But the Sparks got behind and Browning holed out in the deep with two balls remaining.
She had to find the rope and took a chance.
The Sparks finished on 199 for six.
The game just slipped out of their reach late. But the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculations were not particularly kind to them either.
The loss has left the Sparks anchored at the bottom of the competition standings.
They dominated the tournament last season but have fallen away this summer.
They showed more of their old spirit yesterday.
Emma Black took four for 37 in an improved effort with the ball by the bowling unit.
Spinners Chloe Deerness (two for 41) and Browning (two for 32) did a decent job.
Caitlin Gurrey (54) and Holly Topp (51) top-scored for Northern Districts.
The Sparks produced a sloppy bowling display on Saturday, though.
Extras made a significant contribution to Northern Districts’ tally of 247.
Otago conceded 29 wides and three no-balls.
Louisa Kotkamp was the worst offender, giving up nine wides in six overs.
Harriett Cuttance was wayward as well. She gave up six and was left out of the playing XI yesterday.
Deerness took her spot.
Jess Watkin (28) and Yaz Kareem (36) put on 54 for the first wicket, while the experienced Gurrey whacked a run-a-ball 71.
PJ Watkins nabbed three wickets for the Sparks, but Black was the pick of the bowlers. She grabbed two for 29.
Otago’s top three of Felicity Robertson (16), Olivia Gain (13) and Saffron Wilson (19) all got starts.
They also all got out in disappointing fashion by slicing catches to the field.
Polly Inglis added 31, and Blakely (42) and Anna Browning (44) put on 65 for the sixth wicket to create some hope in the team.
But Marama Downes (four for 25) helped mop up the tail.
The Sparks slumped to 200 all out to lose by 47 runs.
The other four teams all had a win and a loss during the weekend.
Auckland (14 points) lead the standings from Northern Districts (13), Central Districts (13), Wellington (9), Canterbury (5) and Otago (0).
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
First innings 247
OTAGO
First innings 200
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
J Watkin c&b Deerness 23
Y Kareem c Robertson b Black 11
T Wakelin b Browning 27
C Gurrey c Deerness b Black 54
N Patel lbw Browning 4
E Wolland c James b Deerness 3
H Topp b Black 51
S Bowden not out 10
L Boucher b Black 0
M Downes c Browning b Blakely 18
K Knight not out 6
Extras (1lb, 10w)11
Total (50 overs)218
Fall: 1-15, 2-64, 3-66, 4-71, 5-78, 6-183, 7-184, 8-184, 9-212.
Bowling: E Black 10-0-37-4 (1w), P Waitkins 5-0-31-0, L Kotkamp 4-0-21-0, C Deerness 10-0-41-2 (4w), A Browning 10-0-32-2 (1w), F Robertson 6-0-31-0 (1w), C Blakely 5-0-24-1 (1w).
OTAGO
F Robertson c Patel b Boucher 1
O Gain b Knight 22
S Wilson c Topp b Knight 18
B James c Topp b Knight 27
P Inglis c Topp b Wolland 38
C Blakely not out 35
A Browning c Downes b Watkin 39
P Watkins not out 1
Extras (2b, 2lb, 14wd)18
Total (41 overs)199
Fall: 1-2, 2-45, 3-61, 4-117, 5-121, 6-196.
Bowling: M Downes 9-0-35-0 (3w), L Boucher 5-0-27-1 (3w), K Knight 8-0-38-3 (2w), J Watkin 7-0-32-1 (2w), N Patel 8-0-40-0 (1w), S Bowden 1-0-9-0 (1w), E Wolland 3-0-14-1.
Result: Northern Districts Women win by 2 runs (DLS Method)
