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Career best for Niamh but Somerset narrowly miss out
A career best T20 score from Niamh Holland couldn’t prevent Somerset from slipping to a narrow defeat against Hampshire Hawks in the Vitality Blast at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The 20-year-old made 60 and was well supported by Amanda Jade Wellington (45 from 26), but Somerset once again fell agonisingly short as the visitors claimed the victory by just five runs.
Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat.
Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott looked in fine touch and brought up the visitor’s 50 in the sixth over.
The pair added 80 for the first wicket before Bouchier went for one big shot too many and fell to a brilliant diving catch over her shoulder in the deep by Chloe Skelton off the bowling of Amanda Jade Wellington. She departed for 43 from 26 deliveries in the 10th over having set the tone for her side’s innings.
As is so often the case, one wicket brings forth another and so it came to pass that 80 for one became 90 for two when Knott (43 from 34) picked out Wellington at long on to give Charlie Dean a wicket.
Freya Kemp and Georgia Adams brought up the Hampshire 100 in the 13th over and their partnership was eventually worth 49 when Dean claimed her second wicket of the match. Adams (10) was the batter to go, Fran Wilson taking the catch at long off.
Dean then claimed her third wicket with the very next ball, taking a return catch off her own bowling to remove Rhianna Southby.
139 for four became 141 for five when Abi Norgrove was run out for one. Wellington fielded the ball off her own bowling and threw it in to Jess Hazell who removed the bails to leave Norgrove high and dry.
All the while, Kemp continued to accrue runs to all parts of the ground and reached her 50 from 33 balls.
Taylor was run out attempting a suicidal run to to Sophie Luff at 152 for six in the 19th over, but Kemp remained unbeaten on 65 from 38 balls as Hampshire Hawks posted a total of 169 for six.
Dean was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with three for 25 from her four overs.
The Somerset chase got off to the worst possible start when Bex Odgers was run out following a mix up with Holland to leave the hosts on three for one after the opening over.
Wilson was given a life on three when she was dropped at deep mid wicket by Kemp off Lauren Bell, but her reprieve was short-lived as she was caught by Dattani at third just two deliveries later in the over to depart for seven. At this point Somerset were 19 for two in the fourth over.
By the end of the six-over powerplay, Somerset were 35 for two requiring 9.64 runs per over for victory.
Holland looked to increase the momentum and secured the first six of the innings in the eighth over, courtesy of a little help from Bouchier much to the frustration of bowler Taylor.
The home side’s 50 arrived in the ninth over.
The 50 partnership between Holland and Luff arrived from 32 balls, but the Somerset skipper fell to the last ball of the 10th over when she picked out Adams at extra cover off the bowling of Linsey Smith and had to depart for 23.
Luff’s departure brought Wellington to the middle and the Somerset faithful were hopeful that her usual fireworks could help propel their side to victory. However, it was Holland who continued to take the attack to the Hawks. She smashed a second six into the Somerset stand and then brought up her 50 from 39 balls.
The Somerset 100 arrived at the end of the 13th over and the 50 partnership between Holland and Wellington arrived from 33 deliveries as the hosts fought valiantly to keep up with the required run rate.
Holland finally fell lbw to Smith for 60 looking to reverse sweep at 134 for four in the 18th over. However, Wellington grasped the mantle and helped herself to consecutive boundaries at the end of the over to keep her side in the hunt.
With two overs remaining, Somerset needed 25 for victory, but both Wellington and Dean were looking to attack.
The penultimate over, bowled by Bell, yielded just nine runs, turning the tide in Hampshire’s favour.
Wellington was run out brilliantly by Bouchier off the opening ball of the final over and when Alex Griffiths was stumped off the very next delivery the game was essentially up.
Jess Hazell survived the hat trick delivery but Somerset fell just short and are still looking for an opening victory in this year’s competition.
