The relentless defending champions have banked the maximum 30 points from the first six-match phase of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield - that will now break for the Dream11 Super Smash holiday season window, with the southerners perfectly placed to convert their white-hot one-day dominance into scorching T20 domestic form.
The Sparks weren't the only ones to tick off a winning weekend, with last season's Super Smash finalists the Central Hinds scampering back up into second spot on the 50-over table, after twin bonus-point victories against the cellar-dwelling Canterbury Magicians at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.
The Hinds will have two more matches at Pukekura Park when the one-dayers resume in early February, before a fascinating double showdown with the Sparks in Dunedin that could clear their own path to the Final.
Propelled by a Suzie Bates century and Eden Carson five-wicket bag in their latest victory, the Sparks have meanwhile opened up an impressive 15-point lead on the Hinds: the equivalent of three bonus-point wins, with just four matches remaining before the Grand Final at their home ground.
Wellington Blaze also made a big move up the ladder courtesy of twin away wins against a good Auckland Hearts side - the return of WHITE FERNS stars Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine making the difference as they helped get the capital's campaign back on track.
The Auckland Hearts consequently now drop from second to fourth, equal with the Blaze on 13 points, but ranked marginally behind on overall net run rate.
The national one-day regular season consists of 10 rounds, the top two qualifiers proceeding to a winner-takes-all Grand Final in Dunedin on 1 March 2025 - and the competition will resume on Saturday, 8 February in New Plymouth, Auckland and Wellington.
Meanwhile, the country's WHITE FERNS can head to this week's Chemist Warehouse ODI Series at the Cello Basin Reserve in good one-day form as they get ready to contest the history-laden Rose Bowl against Australia.
Suzie Bates and Melie Kerr both chalked up match-winning centuries over the weekend, while spinner Eden Carson's one-day bag of 5/24 in Dunedin was just shy of her career-best haul of 5/17.
Maddy Green (Auckland Hearts) remains the top overall runscorer in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with 325 runs from six innings and Carson is in a four-way tie with Ocean Bartlett (Central Hinds), Xara Jetly (Wellington Blaze) and Bree Illing (Auckland Hearts, the sole pace bowler in the group) on 13 wickets at the top of the national domestic bowling statistics.
The Dream11 Super Smash begins on Boxing Day at Seddon Park, Hamilton - check out the SCHEDULE.
ROUND SIX HBJ in detail:
 |
Twin bonus point victories at Pukekura Park puts Central right back in Hallyburton Johnstone Shield contention
|
 |
Otago Sparks v Northern Districts Women. Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-25. Match Highlights. 15 Dec, 2024
|
 |
Auckland Hearts v Wellington Blaze. Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-25. Innings 2 Highlights. 15 Dec, 2024
|
 |
Otago Sparks v Northern Districts Women. Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-25. Innings 2 Highlights. 14 Dec, 2024
|
 |
There weren't many dry eyes after 34-year-old Hinds veteran Kerry Tomlinson scored her maiden Domestic century, in a record-breaking stand with youngster Flora Devonshire - who then went on to clinch her maiden bag
|
 |
Auckland Hearts v Wellington Blaze. Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-25. Innings 2 Highlights. 14 Dec, 2024
|