Otago have returned to the top of the women's Super Smash table, as a Suzie Bates-inspired Sparks hammered Auckland Hearts by 45 runs in Queenstown.
The victory was the perfect response for Otago, which suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday when they fell to a huge 66-run loss to Wellington Blaze.
Opening the batting after winning the toss, White Ferns star Bates hammered 10 boundaries in her innings of 89 not out from 61 balls, leading Otago to 153/2 from their 20 overs.
Bates was ably supported by White Ferns teammate Katey Martin, who made 40 from 35 balls with five boundaries before she was run out, ending the pair's partnership of 93 runs.
Fran Jonas was the only Auckland bowler to take a wicket, finishing with figures of 1/21 from her four overs.
Bates' innings sees her move to the top of the Super Smash's run scoring charts, with a season high 330 at an average of 66.
In response, Auckland were on the back foot from the first over, as captain Lauren Down departed for a first-ball duck to the second ball of the innings, as the Hearts' batting order failed to make a dent in their target.
Katie Perkins' 29 from 32 balls was the highest score on offer for Auckland, while Bella Armstrong made 20 from 26 before being forced to retire.
Off-spinner Eden Carson was Auckland's chief tormentor, finishing with figures of 4/12 from her four overs, as the Hearts could only muster 108/9 in their response.
The win moves the Sparks to the top of the competition ladder with 24 points from their seven games, six of which are wins, for a four-point lead over Wellington in second - albeit with two games in hand.
Auckland meanwhile stay third with eight points from five games, a huge 12 points off the second-placed Blaze.
