Somerset fall short against Hampshire
Hampshire raised their second highest ever List-A total to beat Somerset by 39 runs in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.
Francesca Sweet top-scored with 57 from 52 deliveries with eight fours, Rhianna Southby contributed 53 and Maia Bouchier 50 as Hampshire posted 303 for seven to improve their prospects of progressing. Spinners Liv Barnes and Lola Harris claimed three for 54 and two for 56 respectively.
The home side made a good fist of chasing, Anika Learoyd (87) and Bex Odgers (77) staging a second wicket stand of 161 in 25 overs, a record for the County in List A cricket, to threaten an unlikely outcome. But Amanda Jade Wellington returned figures of three for 52 and Georgia Adams three for 45 as Somerset, well-placed at 199 for one, were eventually dismissed for 264 in 46.3 overs.
Hampshire openers Bouchier and Ella McCaughan established dominance in a rattling stand of 72 in 10.4 overs after being put in.
Barnes removed McCaughan for 31, but the pressure was soon back on, Abi Norgrove scoring at a run-a-ball and Bouchier moving serenely to a 47-ball half century with seven fours.
Somerset needed a breakthrough and Niamh Holland obliged, having Bouchier held by Learoyd at extra cover. Norgrove then gave Harris the charge and was stumped by Katie Jones for 35, while Chloe Skelton persuaded Adams to chip to mid-on with the score 152 for four.
On the cusp of assuming control, Somerset must have regretted passing up the opportunity to remove Sweet for seven, a straightforward chance off the bowling of Skelton going down at mid-off. Making good on her escape, Sweet helped raise 98 in 15 overs in alliance with Southby as the fifth wicket pair engineered a crucial momentum shift.
Sweet reached 50 from 44 balls, Southby achieving the same landmark via seven deliveries more, before top-edging a catch behind off Harris. Barnes accounted for Sweet and Naomi Dattani, but Wellington and Poppy Tulloch ensured Hampshire finished strongly.
Somerset lost Sophie Luff for 23, only for Learoyd and Odgers to carry the fight to Hampshire thereafter. These two made 50 from 53 balls without taking undue risks, bringing up the hundred in 19 overs.
Learoyd struck eight fours in a 52-ball half century characterised by crisp stroke-play, while the more conservative Odgers played a supporting role in going to 50 via 73 deliveries with six boundaries.
When Learoyd stepped inside a short ball from Tulloch and hooked for six, it brought up the hundred partnership as the hosts reached halfway well-placed at 142 for one.
Desperate to effect a breakthrough, Hampshire removed Odgers and Learoyd in the space of three deliveries, the former edging a catch behind off Wellington and the latter a return catch to Adams. The visitors further improved their situation when Wellington bowled Hazell around her legs and Adams had Holland caught at mid-wicket.
By the time Alex Griffiths was caught and bowled by Wellington, Somerset were 213 for six, having lost five wickets in the space of 25 deliveries.
