Defeat for Somerset despite a century for Bex
Bex Odgers claimed the third highest ever score for Somerset Women in List A cricket, and the highest of the Tier 1 era, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat against Hampshire at Utilia Bowl in the Metro Bank One Day Cup today.
Odgers became the third Somerset batter of the professional era to reach three figures as she carried her bat, but it was the hosts who came out on top by five wickets.
Maia Bouchier also excelled, scoring a personal best 143 to trump Odgers’ exquisite 133 and give Hampshire the points.
Odgers’ first professional ton, which included an unbroken 150 run partnership with Chole Skelton – the highest seventh wicket partnership in Women’s List A cricket in this country and the fourth largest of all-time, had given Hampshire a tricky 282 to chase. The opener’s knock has only been bettered twice for Somerset; by Sophie Luff (138*) in 2015 and by Hannah Lloyd (136*) in 2005.
However, Bouchier and international team-mate Freya Kemp shared a captivating 149-run partnership in front of England Head Coach, Charlotte Edwards, as Hampshire claimed a fourth win in six.
Odgers batted the entire Somerset innings, having been stuck in, amassing runs at her pace throughout, regardless of what was going on at the other end.
Sometimes that was a stutter, like when opening partner Ruby Davis was bowled by a Naomi Dattani nip backer, or when five wickets fell inside 10 overs as Hampshire blazed through the middle order.
Much of that work had been done by the tight spinners, with Amanda-Jade Wellington picking up two for 31, although mistimed reverses and scoops were also to blame, as Somerset went from 102 for one to 131 for six.
Either side of that, Odgers was at the centre of two sizeable partnerships.
The first was an 86-run alliance with Australian Anika Learoyd, which rolled along to build a firm platform, but after that foundation was decimated, Skelton joined Odgers to fire Somerset to a healthy score.
No Sophie Luff, due to concussion protocols, added more demand on the batters, but Odgers stood up and took control with her quick wrists and well-placed shots.
Skelton’s arrival gave impetus to the innings – with 104 runs coming off the final 10 overs – as the pair put on the record stand.
Bouchier and Kemp were thrust together after Ella McCaughan and Abi Norgrove had both been dismissed, and did the bulk of the scoring.
Bouchier had carved the first delivery she faced to the cover boundary and barely stopped for 111 balls as she punished good and bad bowling alike in a breathtaking innings.
Having been left smarting after she was left out of the T20 World Cup squad, and only placed in the New Zealand series squad after Nat Sciver-Brunt pulled out, this was a reminder to Edwards of her talents.
Kemp, who had largely struck with Bouchier’s ferocious pace, was caught behind with 86 runs still required, but that didn’t hinder the hosts.
Bouchier only fell when captain for the day, Niamh Holland pulled off a great catch at long on, but it didn’t stop Rhianna Southby, Naomi Dattani and Megan Sturge from ticking off the remaining 26 runs with more than nine overs to spare.
