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

Yorkshire 196-8 v Hampshire 205-7 (38 overs - target adjusted to 213), Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Hampshire won by 16 runs DLS. 

Yorkshire 0 points, Hampshire 4 points 

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Francesca Sweet’s maiden half-century for Hampshire - a well-paced 50 - helped her new county claim a rain-affected Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory over Yorkshire at a Clifton Park venue where she scored runs before.

Almost a year ago to the day in York, 21-year-old Sweet impressed with a Tier 2 fifty for Leicestershire in a 50-over defeat against Yorkshire.

On this occasion, she was on the right end of the result as last year’s One-Day Cup finalists totalled 205 for seven from 38 overs and then comfortably defended an adjusted target of 213 to claim their fifth win in seven matches and consolidate second place in the table.

Opening batter Ella McCaughan top-scored for Hampshire with a composed 51 before Yorkshire responded with 196 for eight. Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leg-spin returned one for 31 from eight overs added to an earlier 41 not out. Hampshire won by 16 runs on DLS. 

Yorkshire were in a position of health, with their visitors 127 for five from 29.1 overs before a rain delay of nearly 90 minutes. The overs had been reduced a couple of times already, and this time down to 38 overs per side. 

In the final 8.5, tall right-hander Sweet and Australian overseas Wellington scored the bulk of another 78 runs added. 

Wellington hit five fours in 27 balls, while Sweet’s first Hampshire innings - in her third appearance - also saw her hit a handful of boundaries in 57 balls. She was particularly strong over cover. 

Aussie Jonassen continued her excellent start to life with the White Rose. She has contributed with both ball and bat this season. 

Two Hampshire wickets fell immediately before the players left the field for rain - there was even some hail at one point - following a delayed start until 10.45am. McCaughan was one and her opening partner Rhianna Southby another.

Southby was first - caught at deep square-leg on the pull against the seam of Ines Blackwell for 31, breaking a 12.2-over first-wicket partnership.

Composed McCaughan later fell caught at midwicket off Maddie Ward’s spin - 127 for five in the 30th. 

Jonassen’s trio of wickets had left Hampshire at 93 for four in the 22nd over.

She had Abi Norgrove caught and bowled, the batter undone by extra bounce and a top-edge.

She then had returning Hampshire captain Georgia Adams caught at short mid-wicket for one before getting left-handed Naomi Dattani caught behind playing back.

Adams was playing only her second game of the season following a month out with a quad injury.

After Sweet and Wellington had shared a sixth-wicket 72, Yorkshire’s openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Georgie Boyce shared 63 inside 13 overs.

But when both fell in the space of three balls to Dattani’s left-arm swing and Wellington’s leg-spin - Boyce caught behind for 22, Winfield-Hill stumped on 35 - Hampshire were back in business.

And for Yorkshire, that opening stand was as good as it got as they slipped to a fourth defeat in seven.

Jonassen miscued Poppy Tulloch’s seam to mid-off shortly afterwards and Adams’ off-spin removed Ami Campbell - 85 for four in the 20th.

From there, Hampshire were ruthless. They squeezed impressively despite Sterre Kalis’s 46.

Bex Tyson’s left-arm spin accounted for two wickets and Dattani struck again before Beth Langston and Grace Hall added respectively for the hosts, taking it down to 24 needed off the last over from Adams.