Laura Marsh to play for Otago Sparks in New Zealand

Marsh played for Women's Big Bash finalists Sydney Sixers in Australia and the 29-year-old will bat in the top half of the order alongside White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates and is expected to make an impact with her offspin.

Sparks coach Warren Lees told the Otago Daily Times: "She is a very experienced player and a good international.

"I feel as though we would end the season very disappointed if we finished fifth or sixth. We've had three very close games which we possibly should have won. Had we won those three close games we'd be second right now [in the one-day competition].

"Our girls have trained harder than they ever have before and we deserve more than where we are on the table.''

Marsh could make her debut against Canterbury in a T20 match at Hagley Oval on Friday before back-to-back one-dayers at the venue over the weekend.

Depending on other results, Lees believes his side will need to win three of the remaining four one-day games to reach the final.