Somerset and Hampshire Hawks Women produced a tie in their T20 Blast match at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.
Holland’s Career Best and Somerset’s Batting
Niamh Holland took a career-best 4-21 as Somerset tied with Hampshire. Somerset scored 159-6, with Anika Learoyd making an unbeaten 61 from 49 deliveries. She shared a second-wicket stand of 90 in 11 overs with Bex Odgers, who scored a career-best Blast score of 57 from 38 balls.
Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. Sophie Luff played on to a delivery from Bex Tyson and departed for five in the second over. Odgers and Learoyd advanced the score to 44-1 by the end of the power play. The second wicket pair carried the home side to 81-1 at the halfway stage.
Odgers made 7 fours and a six in a half century. Having surpassed her previous highest T20 score of 54, made against Durham last year, Odgers fell for 57 with the score 101-2 in the twelfth, cutting Adams to backward point.
Learoyd was dropped on 26 by Naomi Dattani at mid-off. She reached 50 from 45 deliveries. Niamh Holland rotated the strike in a third-wicket stand of 28 before hoisting Adams high to Dattani at long-on. Adams then had Alex Griffiths held at backward point for 12, while Abi Norgrove ran out Chloe Skelton. Learoyd ensured Somerset posted a competitive score.
McCaughan Leads Hampshire’s Chase
Hampshire, chasing 160 to win, tied the score in a dramatic finish. Ella McCaughan posted 69 from 46 balls. She staged an opening stand of 87 with Georgia Adams.
Hampshire required a frenetic, unbroken stand of 20 in eight deliveries from Rhianna Southby and Abi Norgrove to level the scores. Hampshire raised 53 without loss in the powerplay. Somerset dropped Adams on 14 at extra cover off the bowling of Skelton.
Adams’ Performance with the Ball
An error-strewn Hampshire fielding display was masked by a return of 3-24 on the part of Adams. Adams ensured a degree of control with her off breaks.
- Niamh Holland: 4-21
- Ella McCaughan: 69 (46)
- Georgia Adams: 3-24
The match concluded with Hampshire and Somerset tied in their T20 Blast contest.