Highlights: Middlesex v Hampshire Hawks Men, Vitality Blast
Watch highlights of Hampshire Hawks' Men Vitality Blast match against Middlesex at the Merchant Taylors' School Ground.
Hawks Women host Lancashire Thunder at Falkland CC in Newbury
Georgia Adams’ side got over the line in a thrilling contest at Utilita Bowl against Somerset last time out, where Ellyse Perry’s 40 (33) led the way with a second fifty in a row from Rhianna Southby in her new role as an opener, whilst Freya Kemp finished the chase off with an unbeaten 42 (29).
Thunder defeated Bears by seven wickets on Sunday thanks to Emma Lamb’s 60 not out off 48 balls, as they chased down 124 with nine balls to spare at Emirates Old Trafford.
Hampshire Squad
Hampshire Hawks have named a 14-player squad to take on Lancashire Thunder at Newbury.
Georgia Adams Captain (1) |
Abi Norgrove (12) |
Naomi Dattani (10) |
Ellyse Perry (18) |
Freya Davies (61) |
Rhianna Southby † (17) |
Daisy Gibb (15) |
Megan Sturge † (3) |
Freya Kemp (6) |
Mary Taylor (9) |
Ava Lee (33) |
Bex Tyson (35) |
Daisy Mullan (45) |
Poppy Tulloch (24) |
Lancashire Thunder
Captain: Ellie Threlkeld
Overseas player: Katie Mack (Australia, first three group matches), Alana King (Australia, from match four onwards)
Key winter moves: Lancashire were busy ahead of 2025. Eve Jones arrived and is currently one of county cricket’s in-form batters. She’s been joined by England fringe fast bowler Grace Potts and Scotland spinner Darcey Carter. Batter Katie Mack will start the Blast before being replaced by one of the competition’s standout overseas signings, her fellow Australian Alana King, the superstar leg-spinner.
The big question: Lancashire have started the summer brilliantly, winning six of eight matches in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Can they transfer that momentum into the Blast? If so, they will definitely be a force. They look to be well balanced, with strength across all disciplines. In the regional era, Thunder’s only knockout cricket came courtesy of a 2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day appearance.
Wildcard watch: Left-armer Sophie Morris is another one off a Lancashire spin-bowling conveyor belt which has nurtured Sophie Ecclestone, Olivia Bell and Hannah Jones in recent times. The 21-year-old played in the regional Charlotte Edwards Cup during the last two summers and, in a 2022 Academy T20 friendly, returned an astonishing 6-0. Her maiden senior five-for came against Durham earlier this month.
Final thought: Ashes rivals, Thunder team-mates. You could well see a spin bowling partnership of Sophie Ecclestone and Alana King during this summer’s Vitality Blast. Aussie leggie King loves Emirates Old Trafford. In 2021, she took a hat-trick there whilst playing for Trent Rockets in The Hundred, a particularly proud moment given it was at the scene of her idol Shane Warne’s ball of the century to Mike Gatting in 1993.
Tickets
Tickets are limited for Hampshire Hawks Women’s Vitality Blast match against Lancashire Thunder and are likely to sell out. Please pre-book tickets online by clicking here.
Coverage
A live stream will be available for the match and a link to this stream will be available in the at www.utilitabowl.com/cricket, along with a live match centre with the scorecard, statistics and insight available throughout the match.
Weather Forecast
Please follow the link to view the latest weather forecast for Newbury: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2641689.
Watch highlights of Hampshire Hawks' Men Vitality Blast match against Middlesex at the Merchant Taylors' School Ground.
Read the match report & hear reaction from Hampshire Hawks Men's Vitality Blast match against Middlesex at the Merchant Taylors' Ground.
Watch highlights of Hampshire Hawks' Women's Vitality Blast match against Lancashire Thunder at Falkland CC