Sparks fail to fire and crumble
THE Otago Sparks have some big problems.
Their top order failed to fire this weekend. The middle order crumbled under the pressure and former international leftarm spinner Morna Nielsen basically has the yips.
The defending twenty/20 champions began their season with a 31run loss to Auckland in a twenty/20 match on Friday and followed up with backtoback oneday losses against the same opponent at Melville Park.
The Sparks batted first twice and could only muster modest totals of 121 and 105, gifting Auckland a fivewicket and an eightwicket win respectively.
Sparks coach Nathan King acknowledged his side had performed poorly with the bat.
‘‘When your top order fails it places a lot of pressure on your middle order,’’ he said.
‘‘Suzie [Bates] and Katey [Martin] got starts [yesterday] and we were getting ourselves into a decent enough position but then they both got out.
‘‘Then it was tough through the middle. They don’t have the experience the top order does.’’
The Sparks were 70 for two in the second onedayer but Martin was out stumped and Bates got out in the next over. The visitors lost the next six wickets for just 35 runs.
It was a rather brutal and rapid decline.
‘‘We played on a wicket which was not the easiest to bat on. I think about 180 would have been a good total and we were some way short of that.
‘‘A few of the girls were playing across the line of the ball, so just some of the basic fundamentals were lacking a little bit.’’
The other major concern is the form of Nielsen. She only bowled two overs during the weekend and got hammered for 26 runs.
‘‘A couple of years ago she was the No 1 bowler in the world so she can definitely bowl,’’ King said.
‘‘But towards the end of last season she had some difficulties and we are hoping that can be rectified.
‘‘At this stage I guess it is yet to be determined how things are going to unfold. But we are keen to really stick by her and help her.
‘‘But the true test is what happens out in the middle. That’s what all of our girls have found out this weekend.’’