TEAM NEWS
Essex Women: Grace Scrivens (C), Jodi Grewcock, Ariana Dowse (WK), Anneke Bosch, Flo Miller, Jo Gardner, Sophia Smale, Eva Gray, Kate Coppack, Esmae MacGregor.
Hampshire Women: Maia Bouchier, Ella McCaughan, Abi Norgrove, Georgia Adams (C), Rhianna Southby (WK), Francesca Sweet, Noami Dattani, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Poppy Tulloch, Hannah Hardwick, Bex Tyson
MATCH DETAILS
Umpires: Gabbi Brown & Paul Baldwin
Scorers: Helen Hyde & ALG Bradnock
Toss: Hampshire won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Hampshire won by 10 wickets
MATCH REACTION: LIBERTY HEAP
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
MATCH REPORT
Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan both struck centuries and rewrote the Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup record books as Hampshire thrashed Essex by 10 wickets at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Bouchier, overlooked by England for their T20 World Cup squad haunted Essex for the second time in 10 days, following her 87 in the recent T20 clash between the teams with 136 not out (114 ball 2 6s 18 4s).
The London-born right-hander found a perfect partner in McCaughan who reached the magical century for the first time in her career (115 balls 13 4s), the pair sharing an unbroken stand of 246 to reach the target, a record for any wicket in the competition
It meant Liberty Heap’s thrilling career-best 75 from 63 balls - a maiden List-A half-century – and 56 from Jo Gardner proved in vain, though their efforts did enable Essex to recover from the early damage wreaked by Hampshire spinners Bex Tyson (3-66) and Amanda-Jade Wellington (2-39).
Once Jodi Grewcock chipped one from Tyson back to the bowler, Essex’s top order folded. Tyson trapped debutante Anneke Bosch lbw for a three-ball duck, while Wellington’s frugal first spell accounted for Ariana Dowse and Flo Miller, both while attempting to sweep.
Grace Scrivens made 22, and when Georgia Adams plucked out Sophia Smale’s off-stump Essex were 112-6.
Heap though, given a life on 27 when McCaughan spilt the chance at deep square, fought back, hitting Wellington back over her head for six. At the other end Gardner proved a great foil, hitting powerfully through mid-on and midwicket.
Gardner won the race to 50 before being trapped by Tyson, her departure provoking Heap still further, two huge sixes threatening nearby houses and workers on scaffolding above the sightscreen in equal measure.
Bouchier should have been back in the hutch for 17 early in the chase when hitting a full toss from Grewcock straight to the fielder in the deep only for it to be dropped over the ropes for six. The drop proved fatal as Bouchier showcased her undoubted class driving over the top and through the covers with her customary flourish and elegance.
Spinners were milked once she passed 50 but there would be another maximum before her fourth career century was raised in 99 balls.
McCaughan, another who has tormented the Essex attack here in the past, provided great support, her cover drives and late cut for four off Smale things of beauty. She too was given a life on 74 when Miller shelled the chance at midwicket, injuring her hand in the process.
The pair finish the match with a barrage of boundaries, McCaughan reaching her century just before victory was sealed with 70 balls to spare.
