Charlotte Edwards Cup Rewind: Bouchier Nails Down Final Victory

With the 2022 season now firmly in the rear-view mirror, we're taking a look back at some of the performances that caught the eye throughout Southern Vipers' successful Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign.

Unbeaten in the group stage, the Vipers found themselves straight through to the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup at a familiar setting – Northampton.

Less than a year ago, the orange and black team defeated Northern Diamonds by three wickets at the same venue, with just two balls to spare.

This year, they faced new opposition in a final for the first time, in the form of Central Sparks.

Charlotte Edwards made two changes, as Georgia Elwiss came in for Nancy Harman, and Anya Shrubsole replaced Tara Norris, in pursuit to bring her own trophy home to the Vipers.

Having lost the toss, the Vipers were sent out to field first, and they struck in the second over as Charlie Dean yorked Sparks captain Eve Jones in just the second over of the innings.

Wickets fell regularly, with England’s Amy Jones being the only Sparks batter to make it into the 20s, as the West Midlands side scored just 109-8 in their 20 overs.

The Vipers then lost their own early wicket, as captain Georgia Adams chipped a catch to her opposite number, Eve Jones, which brought Maia Bouchier to the crease.

She clattered her fourth ball for four as she helped a short ball from Issy Wong to the fine leg boundary.

A couple of overs later, she pulled another ball from Wong, in front of square this time, as the Vipers raced to 43-2 at the end of the fifth over.

Another bowler, another boundary came as Bouchier cut Emily Arlott for four with the ball racing away to the point boundary.

Then, in the first over after the powerplay, she rocked back and pulled a short ball from Sarah Glenn to the midwicket boundary for her fourth four.

She was dismissed in the 10^th over, but helped the Vipers get over halfway to their target, and Ella McCaughan secured victory by five wickets less than six overs later.

Watch the best bits Bouchier’s innings by following the link below.

The best way to watch Maia and the rest of the Southern Vipers squad is with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.

Memberships for 2023 are now on sale, from £180 for a standard membership, whilst junior and young adult memberships start at £25.

A Hampshire Cricket Membership provides the chance to be part of the Hampshire family and incorporates a whole host of exciting benefits for 2023.

Members are at the heart of everything that happens at Hampshire Cricket and The Ageas Bowl, and the Club continuously looks to improve the Membership offering.

Southern Vipers' 2023 fixtures are now available!

The Vipers will play a minimum of 21 matches in 2023, with 14 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy games and seven Charlotte Edwards Cup matches, five of which are double headers, of which two are at The Ageas Bowl.