Fresh from Women's BBL duty with the Perth Scorchers, WHITE FERNS captain Suzie Bates ensured her Otago Sparks team nailed their first one-day win of the season with a sweet unbeaten 90 from 86 balls in the first of their back-to-back matches with Northern Spirit in Lincoln.
Bates was all too much for the Spirit, commanding the chase en route to a sweeping nine-wicket win.
Her task had been earlier assisted by her WHITE FERNS spin duo of Morna Nielsen (one for 22) and Leigh Kasperek (one for 28) and medium-pacer Victoria Abbott (a fine three for 24) who helped restrict Northern to 167 for nine.
That chase proved a gimme for Bates, who combined in an 80-run stand for the opening wicket with Caitlin Blakely (32) before Kasperek (42 not out from 39 balls) joined her to finish it off for a valuable bonus point win with 18.1 overs to spare.
