Hampshire Hawks cruised to an eight-wicket victory against struggling Lancashire Thunder with opening batter Maia Bouchier scoring an unbeaten 74 at a windy Blackpool.
Bouchier, who was overlooked by the England selectors for the forthcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, showed her class, along with Hampshire skipper Georgia Adams, as the pair put on a second-wicket partnership of 114 runs to seal the win.
Australian star Meg Lanning had earlier scored 64 but her efforts were in vain as the hosts slumped to their fifth defeat from the opening six games with Hampshire registering their third win of the competition.
Hampshire got off to a brilliant start with former Lancashire player Naomi Dattani bowling Eve Jones with the third ball of the opening over before skipper Adams accounted for Tilly Kesteven the same way with her first ball to leave the hosts 23-2.
In the fifth over of the game rain forced the players off the field for just over an hour with Dattani striking with the first ball after the resumption as Grace Johnson was bowled for two.
Lancashire needed a partnership and they got one between captain Ellie Threlkeld and the in-form Lanning, who counter-attacked in style with repeated sweeps and some energetic running.
Lanning brought her half-century up off 41 balls with five boundaries and one towering six before she top-edged a Bex Tyson delivery to wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby for 64 to end the partnership on 80.
Danielle Collins was out first ball caught in the deep off Amanda-Jade Wellington, but Threlkeld saw her side through to the final over before she was bowled by Poppy Tulloch for 45 with Fi Morris departing off the last ball of the innings.
Bouchier took the game to Lancashire, hitting Kate Cross’ first over for 10, but Grace Potts struck with her first ball to bowl Ella McCaughan for a duck.
Cross had Adams dropped in the deep by Johnson with the skipper on five and it proved costly as the second-wicket pair began compiling the partnership that would win the game.
Bouchier’s half-century came off 37 balls with one six and six fours as the visitors eased their way to the target in the 16th over against a demoralised looking Lancashire with the winning runs coming soon after Adams was run out for 48.
