Report & Reaction: Essex v Hampshire Women, Metro Bank One Day Cup

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women – Essex 245 all out lost to Hampshire 246-0 by 10 wickets

Points: Hampshire 5, Essex 0

Jon Batham, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan both struck centuries and rewrote the Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup record books as Hampshire thrashed Essex by 10 wickets at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.

Bouchier, overlooked by England for their T20 World Cup squad haunted Essex for the second time in 10 days, following her 87 in the recent T20 clash between the teams with 136 not out (114 balls, 2 sixes, 18 fours).

The London-born right-hander found a perfect partner in McCaughan who reached the magical century for the third time in her career (115 balls 13 fours), the pair sharing an unbroken stand of 246 to reach the target, a record for any wicket in the competition.

It meant Liberty Heap’s thrilling career-best 75 from 63 balls – a maiden List-A half-century – and 56 from Jo Gardner proved in vain, though their efforts did enable Essex to recover from the early damage wreaked by Hampshire spinners Bex Tyson (3-66) and Amanda-Jade Wellington (2-39).

Once Jodi Grewcock chipped one from Tyson back to the bowler, Essex’s top order folded.

Tyson trapped debutante Anneke Bosch lbw for a three-ball duck, while Wellington’s frugal first spell accounted for Ariana Dowse and Flo Miller, both while attempting to sweep.

Grace Scrivens made 22, and when Georgia Adams plucked out Sophia Smale’s off-stump Essex were 112-6.

Heap though, given a life on 27 when McCaughan spilt the chance at deep square, fought back, hitting Wellington back over her head for six. At the other end Gardner proved a great foil, hitting powerfully through mid-on and midwicket.

Gardner won the race to 50 before being trapped by Tyson, her departure provoking Heap still further, two huge sixes threatening nearby houses and workers on scaffolding above the sightscreen in equal measure.

Bouchier should have been back in the hutch for 17 early in the chase when hitting a full toss from Grewcock straight to the fielder in the deep only for it to be dropped over the ropes for six. The drop proved fatal as Bouchier showcased her undoubted class driving over the top and through the covers with her customary flourish and elegance.

Spinners were milked once she passed 50 but there would be another maximum before her fourth career century was raised in 99 balls.

McCaughan, another who has tormented the Essex attack here in the past, provided great support, her cover drives and late cut for four off Smale things of beauty. She too was given a life on 74 when Miller shelled the chance at midwicket, injuring her hand in the process.

The pair finish the match with a barrage of boundaries, McCaughan reaching her century just before victory was sealed with 70 balls to spare.

Header image courtesy of Essex Cricket

Hampshire opener Maia Bouchier said: "We couldn't really ask for more today to be honest. The bowlers bowled really well to keep them to that score and then for Ella and I to bat like that on a pitch that was quite nice but also had a little bit in it. It was good to bat with her like that for a good space of time. It is a great pitch here at Chelmsford and we enjoy playing here.

It's amazing (to set the Metro Bank One-Day Cup partnership record). To be able to stay in until the end and get that red inker - that's so important.

"Ella has been working so hard behind the scenes on her her mentality. Her technique is great. She has always been a great striker of the ball. The way she has played in this game just shows how mature she is as a person and I couldn't be more proud of her as I've been playing with her for a long time now and seen how she's grown up. She could be a great.

"I was obviously disappointed not to get in the T20 World Cup squad but there are plenty of other World Cups coming up and the Test match coming up this summer. Those selections are something to look forward to, so I guess I'm trying to play as much as I can and score those big runs which have been a goal of mine for a good year now. So, trying to get those three figures and that red inker a lot more. It's important I think about being not out at the end of a game. Even though I missed out on a World Cup I've had a good chance to bat in 50-over cricket and show I can play 50-over cricket as well. There are always more opportunities coming."

Essex batter Liberty Heap said: "It's obviously very disappointing to get beaten to that extent. You have got to applaud the opposition when they play so well. Bouch and the other batter (McCaughan) looked pretty difficult to get out, but a lot of the girls will be pretty disappointed about that performance. 

"Obviously I moved to Essex at the end of last season and probably haven't played as much throughout the year so far as I would have liked. It is obviously quite difficult to just jump in mid-season and perform. It was really nice to bat with Jo (Gardner) out there and she helped me to pace my innings and stuff. It felt good to get a few away and I was pretty happy with my tempo.

"The 50 was in the back of my mind but I tried to not focus on that too much. A couple of sixes I got out of the middle and I was pretty happy with how I was striking the ball."