Hampshire dominate Durham to make One-Day Cup semis

With a nine-wicket win over Durham, Hampshire defeated the first team to advance to the Women’s One-Day Cup semi-finals.

Opening duo Rhianna Southby and Maia Bouchier made light work of the hosts’ total of 224-9, which was aided by Georgia Adams’ side.

When the heavens opened at Chester-le-Street, the visiting batters came back to finish the revised total as quickly as possible.

In a four-wicket win over Surrey, second-placed Lancashire maintained the pressure at the top, with Seren Smale scoring an unbeaten 67.

Thanks to Sarah Bryce’s (68) dominant victory over Somerset, the Blaze appear favorites to finish in the top two in the last four.

Hampshire could easily make it to the last four thanks to a 152-strong opening partnership.

Bouchier, who had a lead role and an unbeaten 93, was Southby’s (58) choice. Before the skies opened, the duo put together 144 runs in just 19 overs.

Southby fell when they came back, but a revised target of 171 in 37 overs was comfortably passed.

Durham had previously owed money to Hollie Armitage. Mia Rogers was run out by Naomi Dattari, who had already left the score of 15-1, when the home skipper made the turn to take the wicket.

And she was still there in the final over, having scored 88 in a 105-ball knockoff.

With the ball, Hampshire skipper Adams took 3-41 from her 10 overs.

Smale won the game, beating Surrey by a score of 225 to the best of Lancashire’s top-order.

Opening duo Gaby Lewis (39) and Emma Lamb (59), who combined for a 74-run partnership for the first wicket, provided a solid platform for the Welsh batter.

The 20-year-old held her composure as late wickets rolled her way home as she led her team to an unbeaten 67.

Although it had initially appeared to be much easier for Lancashire, Surrey gave it a late-night revival.

Before Kalea Moore scored 67 balls in 78 balls, with good support from Phoebe Franklin (25), Bryony Smith’s side were struggling at 60-5 before going on to score at 128-7.

Kirstie Gordon’s side gained a foothold early on in a game with only 33 overs per side and refused to concede.

Within the first 10 overs, Georgie Boyce and Sarah Bryce scored 76 runs for the opener.

The Blaze increased to 252 with the help of 63no as Kathryn Bryce maintained the momentum and Orla Pendergast scored 46 off 31 balls.

Somerset’s reply was broken by a stunning opening spell from Cassidy McCarthy, who took 3-12 from her four overs.

Somerset were all out for 169 with Amanda-Jade Wellington’s 53 runs coming from only 28 balls.

Following a briefing for rain to put pressure on Warwickshire, Essex was able to regroup late in their innings in the fight to avoid the wooden spoon.

Ariana Dowse (36) and Jodi Grewcock (39) both laid a strong early platform, and Jo Gardner’s 47 helped them reach a respectable total.

Amara Carr and Sophie Munro combined for 180 with less than five more overs to go. For the hosts to chase, they added 55 more runs from 29 balls.

When both the openers were canceled, Amu Surenkumar (56) took the lead and Meg Austin and Bethan Ellis (56) took the lead.