Otago Sparks haven’t been at their best this Super Smash season as they sit at the 4th position in the table with just 2 wins so far in the tournament. The Sparks were off to a dominant start as they won 2 out of 2 in their opening fixtures, and that too convincingly. But in the last two matches, something seems to have upset the rhythm of the Sparks.
In the fixture against Northern Brave, they were bowled out for 114 while chasing 139. Luck didn’t favour them in the previous match either, as they lost by just 1 run against Auckland Heart. In the next match against Wellington Blaze, both sides are coming into the match with a defeat in their previous fixture and the victory of either of the teams will do their confidence a world of good.
Emma Black
Emma Black has been one of the leading wicket-takers this tournament with 7 wickets to her name from 4 matches. She bowls at a very good economy of 5, and her average is just a little over 11. Her best figures this season are 2 for 15 from the four overs, and she has been consistent throughout this campaign. Emma will be a bowler to look out for as she rarely misses her length, and it would be a task for the opposition batters to contain her.
Louisa Kotkamp
Louisa Kotkamp has also been on a fabulous run this season with 6 wickets from her 4 innings at an economy of just over 7. Her best bowling figures were 3 for 24, and her ability to control the flow of runs is exceptional. The pressure that is built on the batters may not be reflected in the stats, but it’s important to understand the tactical importance of such performances. Kotkamp would be a player to watch out for, considering her technical prowess and skill in T20 bowling and with a little bit more help in the batting department, she could be an absolute match-winner for the side.
Bella James
Bella James hasn’t had the start that she would have expected in the tournament, as she only scored 18 runs from her first 3 innings. But in the last innings, she scored a solid 40, which really helped her confidence, and the missing touch of James seemed to have been found in that innings. She has been a good top-order batter, and if she is able to carry over the momentum from the previous game, she could be an exciting batter to watch out for, and the Sparks will have a stronger batting unit.
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