Hampshire (women) vs The Blaze (women) – match 37 – League One – at The Utilita Bowl Stadium Southampton, on Wednesday 30 July 2025 (10h30)
Both teams ‘took time to adjust’ to playing fifty overs. Top-of-table Hampshire mounted two key batting partnerships. Freya Kemp [109runs (from92)balls)] partnered by skipper Adams added eighty by mid-way, followed by a century partnership (also clocking-up her own maiden ‘A-list’ century) with Nancy Harman [77(from78balls)] who scored her maiden ‘A-list’ ‘fifty.’ Post-match, Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon complemented Freya Kemp as ‘outstanding,’ please see below. Kirstie Gordon added that the visitors ‘lost too many wickets’ that made it ‘difficult to build (scoreboard) pressure. Once Blaze top-scorer Georgia Elwiss [87(from 97)] departed, commentators turned their attention to Hampshire’s winning bonus point. That was ‘extremely valuable’ when placed top-of-table with four matches remaining. Separately, guest Australian took a 3-fer (3 wickets/conceding 40 runs) in her final match before ‘heading north’ to Birmingham Phoenix in The Women’s Hundred. Best bowler was Daisy Gibb who also took a 3-fer (3 wickets/conceding 21 runs) for Hampshire women. Commentators: Amelia Clark (BBC journalist) and Nikki Chaudhuri (Sports journalist, BBC Sound, Radio Sussex) with Phil Green (Manager, Hursley Park Ladies.) Weather: cloudy with occasional patches of blue sky and light breeze.
Hampshire women wearing navy blue, white neck-line with yellow batting pads and white numbering; *skipper Georgia Adams [Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Blaze] *international player Ellyse Perry (Australia); *Rhianna Southby was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Cassidy McCarthy; *Maia Bouchier was caught aerial at ‘long-on’ by Georgie Boyce, from Cassidy McCarthy; *Ellyse Perry was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Cassidy McCarthy; *After ten overs power-play 43/3; *Stepping forward, Georgia Adams was stumped by keeper Sarah Bryce, from Georgia Elwiss; *By mid-way (25 ov) 114/4; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe’ Abi Norgrove went plumb’ leg-before’ to Georgia Elwiss; *Freya Kemp was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Kathryn Bryce; *Nancy Harman was ‘run-out’ by Lucy Higham’s throw to keeper Sarah Bryce receiving at the striker’s end; Hampshire women batting: Freya Kemp 109(92), Nancy Harman 77(78), Georgia Adams 40(40), Maia Bouchier14(14), Linsey Smith 10(10); Blaze women bowling: Cassidy McCarthy 3/51, Georgia Elwiss 2/50, Kathryn Bryce 1/39;
The Blaze women wearing orange with vertical ‘paper tiger’ stripes over black, plus leg-joggers with half-white stripes and gold numbers; *skipper Kirstie Gordon *[Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Hampshire]; *with Scotland Internationals Kathryn & Sarah Bryce; *Marie Kelly was caught at ‘point’ by Linsey Smith, from Daisy Gibb; *Georgie Boyce was caught at ‘cover’ by Maia Bouchier, from Daisy Gibb; *Level-pegging after ten overs power-play: 44/2 (vs. 43/3); *Kathryn Bryce was caught by at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Abi Norgrove, from Georgia Adams; *By mid-way 120/3 (25 ov) (vs.114/4); *Mis-timing a ‘swipe’ Sarah Bryce edged to keeper Rhianna Southby, from Daisy Gibb; *Mis-timing a ‘swipe’ Georgia Elwiss was bowled ‘top-of-off’ by Bex Tyson; *Mis-timing a ‘slog’ Ella Claridge was bowled ‘middle-and-leg’ by Ellyse Perry; *Mis-timing ‘scoop’, Kirstie Gordon was caught at ‘fine’ by Daisy Gibb, from Ellyse Perry; *Mis-timing ‘drive’, Josie Groves was bowled with bails sent flying, by Ellyse Perry’s yorker; *Mis-timing aerial, Lucy Higham was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Abi Norgrove running round, from Linsey Smith; *Cassidy McCarthy, was caught ‘comfortably’ at ‘mid-off’ by Freya Davies, from Linsey Smith’s final ball; Blaze women batting: Georgia Elwiss87(97), Kathryn Bryce43(53), Ella Claridge22(34), Lucy Higham19(16); Hampshire women bowling: Daisy Gibb 3/21, Ellyse Perry 3/40, Linsey Smith 2/35, Georgia Adams 1/24, Bex Tyson 1/63;
Match result: Hampshire (women) 291/7 (@5.8 runs-per-over from 50/50 overs); beat The Blaze 211 ‘All out’ (@4.6 runs-per-over from 44.5/50 overs/target 292 from 50/50ov.) by 80 runs with 31 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#cd7e1a744-02e9-4425-a3a4-d603f624f346_m99a8edc9-c349-4d27-aee7-d1f8c1aeaa30
*https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225553 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/hampshire-women-v-the-blaze/scorecard/413cc618-727a-5c02-ac56-6a904706d2ee
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Hampshire Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [06h41m58s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWxfeYkwWU
*Kirstie Gordon – Post Match Interview – Hampshire courtesy of The Blaze via YouTube [02m03s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i3Fik4G59U
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/25/metro-bank-league-two-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
Footnote: actual match photo
