And thanks to an outstanding captain’s knock from Martin leading them to their highest score of the campaign – 153-6 – they duly went on with the job, to win by 42 runs, which instead consigned the Central Hinds to the spoon, with the Sparks finishing level on points with the Spirit, behind on net run rate. After being sent in, the Sparks made a slow start of it, at 27-1 after five overs, before Martin, at No 3, got things going in the final over of the powerplay. The right-hander, one day shy of her 36th birthday, welcomed off-spinner Eimear Richardson to the crease with disdain, sending her first ball back over her head for six, in an over which went for 15.
Jimmy Neesham took 2-38 while Logan van Beek conceded just 24 runs from his four overs. Mitchell McClenaghan took 2-37 for the Volts, removing Devon Conway for 18 off 15 and Neesham for two off four, but the damage done by Allen up front made it hard for the hosts to get back in the contest. Allen took 27 runs off an early Michael Rae over that also included a wide and was there at the end as they finished the job with 21 balls remaining. The Firebirds opened up a four-point lead over the Central Stags at the top of the table with their win and are next in action on Saturday against the Canterbury Kings at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.