Hampshire 303 for 7 (Sweet 57. Southby 53, Bouchier 50, Barnes 3-54) beat Somerset 264 (Learoyd 87, Odgers 77, Adams 3-45) by 39 runs
Hampshire raised their second highest ever List-A total to beat Somerset by 39 runs in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women's competition at the Cooper Associates Ground. Taunton.
Francesca Sweet top-scored with 57 from 52 deliveries with eight fours, Rhianna Southby contributed 53. Maia Bouchier 50 as Hampshire posted 303-7 to improve their prospects of progressing. Spinners Liv Barnes. Lola Harris claimed 3 for 54 and 2 for 56 respectively, their performances the only highlight of a below-par Somerset showing in the field.
The home side made a good fist of chasing, Anika Learoyd. Bex Odgers scoring 87 and 77 respectively and staging a second wicket stand of 161 in 25 overs to threaten an unlikely outcome. But Amanda Jade Wellington returned figures of 3 for 52. Georgia Adams 3 for 45 as Somerset, well-placed at 199 for 1, were eventually dismissed for 264 in 46.3 overs.
Hampshire openers Bouchier. Ella McCaughan established dominance in a rattling stand of 72 in 10.4 overs, taking advantage of some wayward bowling after being put in. Barnes removed McCaughan for 31, but the pressure was soon back on, Abi Norgrove scoring at a run-a-ball. Bouchier moving serenely to a 47-ball half century with 7 fours.
Somerset needed a breakthrough and Niamh Holland obliged, having Bouchier held by Learoyd at extra cover. Norgrove then gave Harris the charge. was stumped by Katie Jones for 35, while Chloe Skelton persuaded Adams to chip to mid-on with the score 15 for 4.
On the cusp of assuming control. Somerset must have regretted passing up the opportunity to remove Sweet for 7, Jess Hazell putting down a straightforward chance off the bowling of Skelton at mid-off. Making good on her escape. Sweet helped raise 98 in 15 overs in alliance with Southby as the fifth wicket pair engineered a crucial momentum shift.
Sweet raised 50 from 44 balls. Southby achieving the same landmark via seven deliveries more, before top-edging a catch behind off Harris. Barnes accounted for Sweet and Naomi Dattani, but Wellington and Poppy Tulloch ensured Hampshire finished strongly.
Somerset lost Sophie Luff for 23, only for Learoyd and Odgers to carry the fight to Hampshire thereafter. These two raised 50 from 53 balls without taking undue risks, bringing up the hundred in 19 overs. Learoyd struck 8 fours in a 52-ball half century characterised by crisp stroke-play. while the more conservative Odgers played a supporting role in going to 50 via 73 deliveries with six boundaries.
When Learoyd stepped inside a short ball from Tulloch. hooked for six, it brought up the hundred partnership as the hosts reached halfway well-placed at 142 for 1.
Desperate to effect a breakthrough, Hampshire removed Odgers. Learoyd in the space of three deliveries, the former edging a catch behind off Wellington and the latter a return catch to Adams. The visitors further improved their situation when Wellington bowled Hazell around her legs. Adams persuaded Holland to sky one to midwicket.
By the time Alex Griffiths was caught. bowled by Wellington, Somerset were 213 for 6, having lost five wickets in the space of 19 deliveries and any chance of winning.
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