Otago and Canterbury could be poised to play each other three times in a row if the tea leaves settle as predicted.
Wellington (34 points) has secured pole position in the Super Smash with a game remaining. The Blaze will host the February 11 final.
Canterbury (24 points) is safely through to the playoffs. But Otago (18 points) can still nudge ahead of its rival, while Auckland (18 points) can still sneak into the playoffs if it beats Wellington at the Basin Reserve tomorrow.
The Blaze is undefeated in the format since 2021, so that will be a tough assignment for Auckland.
Otago plays Canterbury in Christchurch this morning and in Dunedin on Monday. The Sparks need to win both games to move ahead of its neighbour and host the elimination final.
But if Auckland loses to Wellington, the Sparks just need to keep their net run rate higher than Auckland and they will progress.
On form, it looks as if Otago and Canterbury are destined to play in the elimination final which will be their third clash in a row.
The Sparks have named an unchanged side to get the job done today, while Canterbury is also sticking with the same 12.
Otago would dearly love to have White Ferns trio Suzie Bates, Hayley Jensen and Eden Carson to help out. But last season the Sparks won the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield without the help of Bates, Jensen and Katey Martin, who has since retired, so the side has more depth than in previous summers.
Ebrahim shapes as the most dangerous of the Otago batters. She has been working hard on lifting her run rate and has scored 227 runs at an average of 37.83.
Her ability to hit the ball down the ground and go over extra cover is a real asset in the woman’s game.
She has also been successful with the ball, nabbing 10 wickets.
Opener Olivia Gain showed her potential with a hard-hit 43 against Central Districts, while Caitlin Blakely and Polly Inglis are seasoned campaigners.
Emma Black has had another fine season with the ball.
She has 10 wickets at an average of 16.40, while English left arm spinners Linsey Smith and Kirstie Gordon have one game under their belt for the Sparks and will team up with Sophie Oldershaw in a three-pronged spin attack.
How Canterbury deals with those overs could have a big impact on the result.
The home team will lean on the vastly experienced Amy Satterthwaite to build an innings with the bat, while Gabby Sullivan (13 wickets at 13.15) and Missy Banks (12 wickets at 18.75) have struck good form with the ball.
Super Smash
The standings
Wellington P: 9 W: 8 L: 0 NR: 0 A: 1 Pts: 34 NRR: 2.12
Canterbury P: 8 W: 6 L: 2 NR: 0 A: 0 Pts: 24 NRR: -0.07
Otago P: 8 W: 4 L: 3 NR: 1 A: 0 Pts: 18 NRR: 0.23
Auckland P: 9 W: 4 L: 4 NR: 0 A: 0 Pts: 18 NRR: -0.37
ND P: 9 W: 1 L: 5 NR: 1 A: 2 Pts: 10 NRR: -0.87
CD P: 9 W: 0 L: 9 NR: 0 A: 0 Pts: 0 NRR: -1.12
*ND and CD were scheduled to play yesterday. That result is not included in the standings.
The teams
Christchurch, 10am
Otago: Bella James, Olivia Gain, Polly Inglis, Kate Ebrahim, Caitlin Blakely, Felicity Leydon-Davis (captain), Linsey Smith, Kirstie Gordon, Emma Black, Sophie Oldershaw, Molly Loe, Gemma Adams.
Canterbury: Abigale Gerken, Kate Anderson, Amy Satterthwaite (captain), Fran Wilson, Natalie Cox, Jacinta Savage, Laura Hughes, Missy Banks, Gabby Sullivan, Jess Simmons, Sarah Asmussen, Jodie Dean.
