Surrey hold nerve to pip Hawks in Women’s T20 Blast

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who won the Women’s T20 Blast table last year, made a triumphant return to the Utilita Bowl.

The former Southern Vipers star racked up 65 from 40 deliveries to give Paige Scholfield and Alice Davidson-Richards the lead in Surrey’s 11th victory in seven games, Georgia Adams taking the final over.

Surrey resisted the hosts’ 155-4 lead after the losing toss, with Australian all-rounder Charli Knott scoring a T20-best 74 not out in place of the injured Ella McCaughan.

In the six-over powerplay, Knott and Maia Bouchier struggled to clear the ball as a result of Surrey’s smothering pressure.

When Bouchier cut to Bryony Smith off Alice Capsey to take 33 from 25 balls, they were 57-0 at the start of the 10th over.

With a fine low catch inside the rope, Phoebe Franklin ran round from long-on to take out Freya Kemp, who had just taken a 22-over lead, before taking another off Dani Gregory to her left at mid-off to make room for skipper Georgia Adams, who had left her side 95-3 in the 15th over.

With only 18 balls left, the Hawks are 122-4, but Knott picked up the pace as the competition progressed to its third-lowest half-century with the help of Davidson-Richards’ fine diving catch just above the turf.

Abi Norgrove and Knott finished unbeaten on 74 balls with eight fours when she joined them and struck four boundaries in a 10-ball 24 not out.

As Surrey skipper Bryony Smith chipped timidly to opposite number Adams for a score of 3-1 from seven deliveries, England’s Linsey Smith took a wicket with her first delivery.

After Wyatt-Hodge’s only six of the match, Linsey Smith was sent straight to Knott at midwicket when Alice Capsey took a stunning catch diving high to her left to send Kira Chathli packing for six and leave Surrey 35-3 in the sixth over.

Wyatt-Hodge made her 63rd T20 half-century with 30 balls to go, making her eighth of the season. However, Hawks were in a position to take the win when Grace Harris burst out to Knott at mid-on for 17 and Mary Taylor took her second wicket as Wyatt-Hodge skewed a slower ball to Linsey Smith to reach 65 from 40 balls.

Surrey were forced to produce 50 from the final 38 balls and 20 from the final 14, which was helped when Linsey Smith was slammed down the ground for another boundary before running straight back to the bowler who had missed a quick catch.

Surrey was in need of 11 from Adams’ final over bowled and 8 from his final four balls, but Davidson-Richard (23*) slashed through the covers to the rope.