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Report & Reaction: Durham v Hampshire Hawks Women, Vitality Blast
Report & Reaction: Durham v Hampshire Hawks Women, Vitality Blast
Read the match report & hear reaction from Hampshire Hawks Women's Vitality Blast match against Durham at Banks Homes Riverside
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Durham Women gave their slim chances of making the Vitality Blast Finals Day a timely boost with a bonus point win over Hampshire Hawks with the five wicket defeat ending the visitor’s own chances of qualifying.
It was the host’s bowlers who put them in charge at a sun-kissed Banks Homes Riverside with seamer Phoebe Turner taking three wickets in the 12th over to turn the game Durham’s way before restricting the hosts to just 103 for seven from their 20 overs.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Hawks made a decent start in reaching 30 without the loss of a wicket off four overs with Australian star Ellyse Perry looking dangerous.
But when Perry was caught at cover by Katherine Fraser in Mady Villiers’ first over for 23 off 16 balls it triggered a collapse that saw the Hawks lose five wickets for 28 runs as Durham blew away the southern outfit’s middle order.
Turner was executioner in chief, removing skipper Georgia Adams for four, opener Rhianna Southy for 25, and Naomi Dattani for one in a devastating over for the Hawks.
Turner was supported by the leg spin of Katie Levick who finished with one for 11 off her four tight overs, and Villers who took for two for 23.
Only a seventh wicket partnership of 35 saved the Hawks’ blushes with Freya Davies’ unbeaten 20 and 12 from Mary Taylor adding some much-needed gloss to a lethargic batting performance.
New Zealand legend Suzie Bates got Durham off to a flyer but they were pegged back in the third over when Daisy Gibb had Emma Marlow caught behind without scoring.
The battle of the Antipodean stars then proved a relishing prospect with Bates hitting Perry’s first ball for a boundary before the Australian had the last laugh when the batter edged her sixth ball behind to leave Durham 35 for two at the end of the powerplay.
With Villers brilliantly caught in the deep by Kemp off a Bex Tyson delivery for 14, the home side’s nerves were kicking in and they only increased when Bess Heath was bowled by Adams for one to leave Durham 49 for four.
It was left to skipper Hollie Armitage and Emily Windsor to steady the ship with three consecutive boundaries from Windsor from Adams’ 12th over proving a crucial turning point in the run chase.
Armitage fell caught and bowled by Davies for 17 but the 40-run partnership for the fifth wicket meant Durham needed just 15 runs to win with Windsor, who previously captained Hampshire, finishing unbeaten on 36 off 23 balls to seal the win in the 16th over.
Georgia Adams, Hampshire Hawks captain, said:
"It's pretty clear that we didn't put enough runs on the board but it was a tricky wicket so I don't think we were too far away from what would've been par.
"When you get on these types of wickets you have to cash in and sadly a few of the girls got in but couldn't convert into a big score.
"We knew it was a used pitch and would be quite challenging so we wanted to get out there first in case it deteriorated and we knew what we were getting into.
"To put in a performance like that when it was a must win game is always disappointing but equally we have a young side and I've been hugely impressed with how people have gone about their cricket and we've seen a lot of players go from strength to strength and what is more disappointing is that some of the senior players like myself have not put in the performances that we needed."
Emily Windsor, Durham Women, said:
"I'm absolutely buzzing and that was a brilliant team performance. There was a lot of energy around the group when we went out there and the bowlers did a fantastic job and we backed it up in the field.
"To get two back to back wins was special for us and we need to keep building from this.
"It meant a lot to get out there - I've been out for a while and coming to a new club I wanted to go out there and score some runs for the girls because I'm a batter and that's my job - a few hit the middle and I wanted to be there at the end to see us home.
"It was only my second time in Durham colours and I was batting against my old side so there were a few nerves but I guess I used that to my advantage and it was nice to see the team home."
