Northern Brave vs Otago Sparks, WSS_T20, Today Match Prediction

NBW-W vs OS-W Match Prediction & Analysis

We are in the final round of league games in the Women's Super Smash 2024-25. The competition has heated up, and the Northern Brave Women will take on the Otago Sparks in the 25th game. The Sparks went down against the Auckland Hearts in the last game and shall look to make a comeback. The Sparks shared points with the Canterbury Magicians in the last game and shall look to improve their position on the points table. 

Otago Sparks has enjoyed a good run this season. They have won six out of the nine games they have played and sit at the top of the points table. A win here will help them book a berth in the next round. The Northern Brave Women aren't far behind and will look to move up with a win. Both teams will enter this game full of confidence, and we expect to see a close contest.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

NBW-W

L W W L

NBW-W

138/5 in 20.0 6.9

WSS_T20

Canterbury Magicians beat Northern Brave by 4 wickets 19 Jan 2025

CM-W

141/6 in 19.3 7.23

OS-W

110/9 in 20.0 5.5

WSS_T20

Northern Brave beat Otago Sparks by 7 wickets 16 Jan 2025

NBW-W

113/3 in 14.0 8.07

CH-W

112/10 in 18.4 6

WSS_T20

Northern Brave beat Central Hinds by 9 wickets 06 Jan 2025

NBW-W

115/1 in 12.4 9.08

NBW-W

146/9 in 20.0 7.3

WSS_T20

Wellington Blaze beat Northern Brave by 4 runs 01 Jan 2025

WB-W

150/3 in 20.0 7.5

OS-W

L L W W W

ADH-W

162/2 in 20.0 8.1

WSS_T20

Auckland Hearts beat Otago Sparks by 25 runs 23 Jan 2025

OS-W

137/7 in 20.0 6.85

OS-W

110/9 in 20.0 5.5

WSS_T20

Northern Brave beat Otago Sparks by 7 wickets 16 Jan 2025

NBW-W

113/3 in 14.0 8.07

WB-W

109/9 in 20.0 5.45

WSS_T20

Otago Sparks beat Wellington Blaze by 7 wickets

14 Jan 2025

OS-W

111/3 in 18.4 5.95

CH-W

90/10 in 18.4 4.82

WSS_T20

Otago Sparks beat Central Hinds by 4 wickets 12 Jan 2025

OS-W

92/6 in 18.1 5.06

CM-W

135/8 in 20.0 6.75

WSS_T20

Otago Sparks beat Canterbury Magicians by 15 runs 07 Jan 2025

OS-W

150/5 in 20.0 7.5

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Northern Brave Preview

Jess Watkin's team shared points with the Canterbury Magicians after their last game was abandoned due to rain. They had defeated the Otago Sparks earlier in the season and shall take inspiration from that win. However, Watkin knows her opponent's strengths and expects a strong show from the team in this game. 

Jess Watkin must lead from the front and deliver a good start in this game, along with Chamari Athapaththu. Caitlin Gurrey and Nensi Patel have batted well, and the team expects a strong show from them in the middle order, along with Marina Lamplough. Amanda-Jade Wellington and Sam Curtis will look to add quick runs in the death overs. 

The bowling attack will face a strong batting lineup in this game, and it must be on its toes. Shriya Naidu and Marama Downes must strike early to put the team in a good position. Chamari Athapaththu has been the team's best bowler this season, and she will look to check the scoring rate in the middle overs alongside Jess Watkin. Amanda-Jade Wellington and Patel add depth to this attack.

Northern Brave Predicted Playing XI:

Jess Watkin (c), Chamari Athapaththu, Caitlin Gurrey, Nensi Patel, Marina Lamplough, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Sam Curtis, Holly Topp (wk), Carol Agafili, Marama Downes, Shriya Naidu

Northern Brave Actual Playing XI:

Caitlin Gurrey, Jess Watkin, Jesse Prasad, Marina Lamplough, Nensi Patel, Holly Topp, Carol Agafili, Marama Downes, Shriya Naidu, Chamari Atapattu, Sam Barriball

Otago Sparks Preview

Hayley Jensen and her team come into this game with a 25-run loss against the Auckland Hearts. It was a poor show from their batters as they failed to chase down an easy target. The team sits at the top of the points table and shall look to win this game and make it to the next round. 

Suzie Bates is an experienced player and looks to deliver an electrifying start in this game with Bella James. The middle order has done well this season, and the team expects runs from Olivia Gain, Caitlin Blakely, and Polly Inglis. Felicity Leydon-Davis and Anna Browning shall look to do the big hitting in the lower middle order. 

The bowlers have enjoyed a good run this season. Hayley Jensen will look to lead from the front and strike early with Emma Black. Kirstie Gordon and Eden Carson have enjoyed good form and aim to do well in the middle overs. Suzie Bates, Browning, and  Leydon-Davis add to the team's bowling options.

Otago Sparks Predicted Playing XI:

Hayley Jensen (c), Suzie Bates, Bella James, Olivia Gain, Caitlin Blakely, Polly Inglis (wk), Felicity Leydon-Davis, Anna Browning, Kirstie Gordon, Eden Carson, Emma Black

Otago Sparks Actual Playing XI:

Caitlin Blakely, Olivia Gain, Suzie Bates, Anna Browning, Felicity Leydon-Davis, Bella James, Polly Inglis, Eden Carson, Emma Black, Hayley Jensen, Kirstie Gordon

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

We will have odd clouds over Mount Maunganui, and the ball will move around a bit, causing some trouble for the batters. Batters must adjust to the pace of the track to do well. The average first-innings score at this venue in women's cricket is 132 runs, and the side batting first shall like 150 on the board.

NBW-W vs OS-W Pitch Report

Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, is a happy hunting ground for fast bowlers. They get the ball to seam and swing on this surface. However, the smaller dimensions of the venue also allow batters to play their strokes easily. Grass on the track makes it a very challenging place for the spinners to bowl.

Toss: To Bowl

The wicket here has been tough to bat early in the day when the ball moves a lot. Bowlers have an edge on this track, and the conditions improve as the game progresses. The side winning the toss would like to bowl first.