The Northern Brave have stormed into the Super Smash women’s Elimination Final after a thrilling victory against the Otago Sparks. This marks the first time the Brave have reached the playoffs since their introduction in 2019.
Brave Battled Back:
After languishing at the bottom of the table, the Brave pulled off a remarkable three-game winning streak to secure their place in the top three. Today’s match at the University of Otago Oval was a must-win, and they delivered, defeating the Sparks by 22 runs on DLS.
Chamari Athapaththu Shines:
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was the star of the show for the Brave, blasting 46 runs off 37 balls before being caught by Felicity Robertson. Despite losing Athapaththu, Jess Watkin (29 not out) and Caitlin Gurrey (14 not out) steered the team to a respectable 94/1 in their 12-over DLS innings.
Rain Dampens Sparks’ Hopes:
The Sparks needed just a washout to qualify, but the rain gods had other plans. Play was interrupted twice due to showers, shortening the match and setting a revised target of 110 runs for the Sparks in 12 overs.
Sparks Fall Short:
The Sparks got off to a shaky start, losing both Bella James and Suzie Bates early on. Hayley Jensen and Felicity Robertson offered some resistance, but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. With the required run rate climbing, the Sparks eventually fell short, finishing on 64/6 after nine overs.
Northern’s Next Stop:
The Brave will now face the Central Hinds in the Elimination Final on Friday. The winner of that clash will advance to the Grand Final to play top qualifier Wellington Blaze in Auckland.
