2020/21
ROUND SEVEN
Northern Districts beat Otago Sparks by 76 runs
Seddon Park, Hamilton
21 February 2021
The young Otago Sparks had yet another tough day at the office this season, ending the weekend as they started: yet to get a win in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield this season.
They were up against last year's finalists Northern Districts, back at the venue where ND so very nearly wrote a fairytale finish.
Captain Felicity Leydon-Davis had scored a century on that bittersweet day last March, and she again prospered at Seddon on this occasion, top-scoring with 88 as she led the way for her side.
Assisted by healthy contributions from Olivia Lobb (41 at the top), Eimear Richardson (55) and Kate Anderson (47), ND was able to score an imposing 292/7 in the first innings after Leydon-Davis had elected to bat, wickets just not coming quickly enough for the southerners against a more experienced line-up.
Although the Sparks made a positive start, it was a bridge too far much once they had again deteriorated to be 100/5 - a repeat performance from Saturday, spinner Richardson capping a good all-round day with her 4-37 as the Sparks were bowled out in the 47th.
