Wellington has claimed the twenty20 crown while Otago has tumbled all the way to the bottom.
Last season, the Sparks were fortunate to slip into the final of the twenty20 competition and then surprised everybody by beating Canterbury to win the tournament.
But with key player Suzie Bates missing for a large portion of the season, the Sparks struggled and registered just two wins to finish at the bottom of the competition standings.
Their final match against Central Districts in Lincoln yesterday was abandoned due to poor weather. And on Saturday the Sparks suffered an eight-run loss to Canterbury.
Canterbury reached 145 for six. Amy Satterthwaite top-scored with 41 and featured in an opening stand of 52 with Frances Mackay (32).
Georgia Clarke was the pick of the Otago bowlers with three for 14.
The Sparks seemed to have the chase under control with Bates anchoring the innings with 43 from 46. Katey Martin made 58 from 49 and Leigh Kasperek was there at the end with an undefeated 22.
But the Sparks never got on top of the run rate and were restricted to 137 for three.
It was a disappointing finish to a mediocre campaign by the defending champions.
Wellington has won the twenty20 title three times in the space of six seasons. It finished with a record of seven wins, two losses and one abandonment.
Northern Districts batsman Bernadine Bezuidenhout can take solace in finishing as the leading run-scorer after consistent performances at the top. She scored 280 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 113.36.
Martin was the most productive Otago batsman with 212 runs at an average of 30.28 and a strike rate of 121.83.
Wellington’s Lucy Doolan (16 wickets at 10) and Auckland’s Anna Peterson (16 wickets at 11) were the joint leading wicket-takers. Kasperek was Otago’s best with eight wickets at 23.
Attention now turns to selections for the White Ferns home series against the West Indies, which will begin with three ODIs in Lincoln and Christchurch, followed by a five-match twenty20 series in Mount Maunganui, New Plymouth and Hamilton.
