Report & Reaction: Durham v Hampshire Hawks Women, Vitality Blast

Durham: 178/5 (20) beat Hampshire Hawks: 146/8 (20)

Report by Thomas Ridley on behalf of the ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Durham opened their Vitality Blast campaign with a victory as Hollie Armitage’s half-century led them to a 32-run win over Hampshire Hawks. 

Durham won the toss and batted first in good conditions, putting a score of 178 for five on the board.

Armitage’s 64 handed the hosts a good platform, but the Hawks pulled that back with a late flurry of wickets.

Hampshire’s chase got off to a slow start as they were restricted to rations by the Durham bowlers, who kept on chipping away with wickets.

The visitors failed to recover as they were restricted to 146 for eight from their 20 overs. 

Durham’s opening pair of Armitage and Mady Villiers made a good start in the opening exchanges at a scorching Banks Homes Riverside, with the latter hitting back-to-back fours.

The pair continued to motor, bringing up the 50 partnership, but that ended as Villiers was bowled by Hannah Hardwick in the final over of the powerplay. 

The Hawks reined Durham in after a quick start. However, Emily Windsor broke the shackles, pummelling a Poppy Tulloch delivery down the ground.

Durham then found their groove once again with a flurry of boundaries, but Bex Tyson dropped Windsor with a caught and bowled opportunity, and the Durham number three was dropped again by Georgia Adams at mid-on from the next ball. 

Hampshire finally clung on to one and made a vital breakthrough as they dismissed Windsor, who miscued an Adams ball straight to mid-off.

Armitage then brought up her half-century off 39 balls and Bess Heath hit the first six of the game down the ground, but she tried to replicate that on the legside boundary and was caught in the deep off a Tulloch delivery.

Armitage then fell as she was caught on the ramp to hand Tulloch a second in the over. Tyson bowled Mia Rogers as the Hawks continued to check Durham’s progress and the visitors were set 179 to win the game.

Ella McCaughan and Adams started Hampshire’s chase and McCaughan was dropped at square leg as a Katie Levick ball was hit aerially towards Heath who couldn’t hold on. 

However, Durham made the breakthrough as Villiers claimed the scalp of Adams who was caught by a backpedalling Armitage on the legside. 

Durham struck again as Katherine Fraser removed McCaughan who was caught in the covers. 

Naomi Dattani looked to add some impetus into the visitors’ chase by smashing back-to-back deliveries to the boundary. However, Levick got Sweet LBW to make the chase even more challenging for the Hawks.

Hampshire’s hopes of victory faded as Dattani miscued a Sophia Turner delivery to backward point. Heather Graham then struck for the first time in a Durham shirt as she bowled Nancy Harman.

Abi Norgrove then holed out to long-off, handing Levick a second of the day. While Graham got her second, with Amanda-Jade Wellington caught in the deep.

Durham then sealed the victory, with Villiers picking up a wicket in the final over.

Hampshire's Naomi Dattani said:  

"We probably would've looked at bowling first, just so we knew what we were chasing and what the pitch would do."

"We definitely brought it back, Amanda and Gads (Georgia Adams) towards the end dragged the momentum back to us. We were confident enough to chase 170 down and go from there."

"It was a tricky start in the powerplay, it just seemed that they got more turn with the type of bowlers they had. It just skidded a bit lower, so it was a little bit difficult up front, but credit to everyone. We batted and went really bravely. If we had a slightly better powerplay, it would definitely be a chaseable target."

"There's plenty of games, we want to keep playing a positive brand of cricket, T20s are fine margins. Hopefully we'll tighten up a few things on our batting and bowling and I'm sure we'll change our luck."

Durham's Hollie Armitage said: 

"We're really happy with the way that we started there, getting the first win on the board at home."

"It comes around very fast, so we'll see what the next one brings."

(On Villiers moving up to opener) "Mady takes on the game really well, and you probably can see what my role is, just to bat for that little bit longer. It worked today and hopefully we can have lots of success with that for our season."

"We've got seven bowling options, HG (Heather Graham) coming into our side is a massive win for us, she's obviously going to bat in them middle overs, but it also provides me an option with the ball in all three phases in the game."