2021/22 Women's Super Smash: Otago Sparks Keep On Groovin'
In their first game of the Super Smash, Otago Sparks enjoyed 13 runs @ 130sr and 4w @ 5rpo from White Ferns all-rounder Hayley Jensen. That was Otago's first win in their 5-0 streak and also Jensen's only Super Smash game as she dipped across the ditch and left the Sparks to toil on without a top-tier cricketer. No dramas though, Otago have won every game since and continue to be the funkiest team in kiwi cricket.
This is merely an update on Otago Sparks funk. I touched on optimistic vibes at the end of last summer and then dropped a manifestation update earlier this season. Hearty wahine cricket fans will be interested in how Otago's getting this done, although keen sports observers will be intrigued about a pocket of talent, development and how different teams progress.
Part of the fascination here is how Otago maintain this. Wellington Blaze are also undefeated (4-0) while Auckland Hearts and Canterbury Magicians are capable of finding a groove come finals time. Northern and Central are yet to win a game at the time of writing (prior to Auckland vs Central) and have the complete opposite vibe to Otago. Otago don't have the winning expertise of Wellington or Canterbury and this is all kinda fresh for many Otago players, which serves as an interest winning wrinkle.
Then again, I'm not sure if Auckland have the oomph to match Otago. Wellington rely too much on Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek but that might be just enough to win the Super Smash. Canterbury also rely too much on Amy Satterthwaite, Frances Mackay and Lea Tahuhu. Like Wellington's Georgia Plimmer or Maneka Singh, Canterbury have players like Nat Cox and Sarah Asmussen who could step up to enhance their championship run.
Otago though, they have a whole team on ahi (fire).
Kate Ebrahim is a pure winner and after playing a crucial role in Canterbury winning last summer's Super Smash (5th in runs, 292 runs @ 73avg/101sr), Ebrahim has taken that down to Otago. Ebrahim is one of a small group of wahine cricketers who ooze competitive spirit, who give batters a send off and is among the best fielders in Aotearoa. Ebrahim now leads all bowlers with 9w @ 5.94rpo/11.1sr and her 5inns with the bat have seen her finish not-out twice, scoring 72 runs @ 95sr.
Ebrahim hasn't had to do too much with the bat because Otago's top-three are all in the top-10 for runs. Suzie Bates and 25-year-old Polly Inglis open the batting, then Katey Martin comes in at #3...
Bates: 2nd - 217 runs @ 54.25avg/116sr.
Inglis: 6th - 108 runs @ 21.60avg/97sr.
Martin: 9th - 96 runs @ 19.20avg/91sr.
Otago have batted first in three of five games, scoring 130+ in all three games. That's a simple marker for success and Otago have chased down Northern's 135 and rolled Central for 75. Otago are winning games in a variety of ways with numerous contributions from experienced and young talent.
Ebrahim is a major factor with the ball, yet Otago's other bowlers form a sizzling crop of young talent. This has was reason for optimism after last summer and has escalated since the last update to the point where Otago have four bowlers under 25-years-old in the group of 13 bowlers with 5+ wickets.
Sophie Oldershaw (leggy): 3rd - 7w @ 4.80rpo/17.1sr.
Eden Carson (offie): 8th - 6w @ 4.42rpo/19sr.
Emma Black (in-swing seam): 9th - 6w @ 6.20rpo/20sr.
Molly Low (out-swing seam): 12th - 5w @ 6.63rpo/17sr.
While there was a disrupted start to the Super Smash, three teams have now played five games with Otago joined by Canterbury and Northern. Wellington and Central have played four games while Auckland have played three games. As we’re in the busy patch of the schedule, I'm curious to see whether Otago suffer some kind of dip or can continue to dominate women's cricket. With three of Aotearoa's best female players and a crop of youngsters putting others to shame, the funk is likely to continue.
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Peace and love.