Auckland Hearts and Otago Sparks are set to face off on January 6 in what promises to be a pivotal Match 11 of the 2025–26 Women’s Super Smash. Heading into this clash, the Sparks find themselves in a strong position, currently sitting second on the points table with 10 points after two clinical wins and one recent loss.
The Hearts, meanwhile, are looking to climb from fourth place, having gathered 6 points from their opening three games—a tally that includes a gritty win, a loss, and one no-result due to rain. While Otago is coming off a recent 24-run setback against Northern Brave, Auckland arrives with fresh momentum after chasing down a target against the defending champion Wellington Blaze just last week.
Squads:
Auckland Hearts’ Women’s Cricket Team
Olivia Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Elizabeth Buchanan, Prue Catton, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Ayaan Lambat, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold
Otago Sparks Women’s Cricket Team
Polly Inglis, Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Anna Browning, Chloe Deerness, Eva Gray, Laura Harris, Bella James, Louisa Kotkamp, Felicity Robertson, Anika Todd, PJ Watkins
Players to watch out:
Louisa Kotkamp
Louisa Kotkamp has emerged as a real threat with the ball for the Sparks this season, quickly climbing the charts to become one of the joint-leading wicket-takers in the competition. In her 3 appearances so far, she has picked up 6 wickets at a sharp average of 14.00, highlighted by a standout performance where she claimed 3 for 24. Her ability to build pressure is evident in her dot ball percentage, which sits just under 50%, making her a vital asset for Otago’s bowling attack.
Josie Penfold
Josie Penfold has been a consistent presence for the Auckland Hearts, contributing effectively to the matches she has featured in this summer. Across 3 games, she has sent down 4 overs and managed to bag 2 wickets, including a tidy best of 2 for 17 that helped stifle the opposition. While she hasn’t had much time at the crease yet, her bowling average of 15.50 and economy rate of 7.75 show she’s doing a solid job of holding things together in the middle overs.
Maddy Green
Maddy Green continues to be the reliable backbone of the Hearts’ batting order, currently sitting among the top run-scorers of the tournament. She has accumulated 96 runs in her 3 innings at an impressive average of 48.00, including a crucial half-century with a top score of 53. Her strike rate of 124.67 demonstrates her ability to keep the scoreboard moving steadily, proving once again why she is considered one of the most dependable veterans in the New Zealand domestic circuit.
Laura Harris
Laura Harris has made an explosive impact since joining the Sparks, highlighted by a record-breaking performance where she equaled the fastest half-century in women’s T20 history off just 15 balls. In her 2 innings so far, she has smashed 76 runs at a staggering strike rate of 230.30, the highest in the league among regular batters. With 5 sixes and 9 fours already to her name, she has become the ultimate “X-factor” player capable of taking any game away from the opposition in a matter of overs.
Pitch:
Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland features a flat, hard wicket that primarily favors batters, allowing for aggressive strokeplay across the line due to relatively short boundaries. Fast bowlers gain some extra pace and bounce early on, but containing runs proves challenging as the surface supports high scores, with first innings averages around 167 in T20/domestic matches.
Weather:
Expect cloudy conditions with temperatures around 21°C, 65% humidity, and light winds at 5 km/h. There’s a 38% chance of precipitation, with visibility at 10 km, potentially influencing play at Eden Park Outer Oval.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Polly Inglis, Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Eva Gray, Laura Harris, Louisa Kotkamp, Bella Armstrong, Prue Catton, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Josie Penfold
Match Details:
Date – January 06, 2026
Time – 9:20 AM IST
Venue – Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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