In the 27th Match of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2025-26, Otago Sparks will take on Canterbury Magicians at the University Oval, Dunedin. The Sparks haven’t been at their best in the last couple of games as they lost by fine margins against Wellington Blaze. They will be looking to get back to winning ways and to gather some momentum to climb to the top. The Magicians have only managed to win one game from the 8 games they have played so far, and they have had a terrible campaign so far. They have lost consecutive games, and they don’t seem to be doing things quite right.
Squads:
Otago Sparks Women’s Cricket Team
Caitlin Blakely, Hayley Jensen, Paige Loggenberg, Suzie Bates, Saffron Wilson, Gemma Adams, Felicity Robertson, Olivia Gain, Bella James, Polly Inglis, Louisa Kotkamp, Molly Loe, Sophie Oldershaw, Chloe Deerness, Eden Carson, Emma Black, Poppy-Jay Watkins
Canterbury Magicians Women’s Cricket Team
Izzy Sharp, Natalie Cox, Harriet Graham, Emma Irwin, Frances Mackay, Lea Tahuhu, Jacinta Savage, Jodie Dean, Melissa Banks, Kate Anderson, Laura Hughes, Abby Gerken, Sarah Asmussen, Gabby Sullivan, Boadicea Lynch, Jessica Simmons, Abigail Hotton, Yssa Cullen, Nicola Clayton, Erin Bermingham
Players to watch out:
Emma Black
Emma Black, the New Zealand bowler, has been a crucial wicket-taking bowler for Otago Sparks. This season, she has picked up 17 wickets from 8 games at an economy of 3.25 so far. She picked up a sensational 4-wicket haul in their previous match against Wellington Blaze. She will be an integral part of their bowling unit, and she will be keen to contribute even more.
Anna Browning
Anna Browning, the New Zealand all-rounder, has been an excellent overall contributor for Otago Sparks in this tournament. This season, she has scored 223 runs from 7 innings, and she has also picked up 7 wickets from 8 innings. She scored an unbeaten gritty 53 and had also picked up two wickets in her bowling spell. She will be a key performer in both the bowling and batting perspective of the game.
Kate Anderson
Kate Anderson, the New Zealand all-rounder, has been a consistent top order batter and captain for Canterbury Magicians. This season, she has scored 383 runs from 8 innings, and she has also picked up 3 wickets at an economy of 8.14. She scored a massive ton in her last game against Northern Brave. She will be hopeful that she can carry the momentum forward and bring better results for her team.
Sarah Asmussen
Sarah Asmussen, the New Zealand spinner, has been an impactful bowler for Canterbury Magicians over the years. This season, she has picked up 14 wickets from 8 innings at an economy of 4.69. In her latest performance, she picked up 4 wickets and gave away just 48 runs against Northern Brave. She will be confident that she can deliver for her side considering her witty bowling and current form.
Pitch:
The surface at Dunedin gives the bowlers something to work with the new ball with even bounce and fine carry. The spinners can make use of the cracks in the pitch, and they can get the ball to grip on the surface. This could be a balanced-scoring game considering the even opportunities for both batting and bowling.
Weather:
The forecast predicts cloudy conditions with a chance of rain and with a high of 9°C, with around a 10% chance of precipitation during the day and roughly 20% chance at night.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Suzie Bates, Felicity Robertson, Frances Mackay, Gemma Adams, Hayley Jensen, Harriet Graham, Olivia Gain, Polly Inglis, Lea Tahuhu, Gabby Sullivan, Eden Carson
Match Details:
Date – February 14, 2026
Time – 3:00 AM IST
Venue – University Oval, Dunedin
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the New Zealand Cricket YouTube app and website.
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