Adams dominates as Hawks women beat Yorkshire

Hawks skipper Adams set the tone with Maia Bouchier in a blazing 68-run first-wicket stand before claiming two for 20 – but in truth, she only bannered a professional home performance.

Bex Tyson, on her 26th birthday, grabbed a two-for to give Hampshire their fourth win.

Yorkshire never got going in their chase of 175 as they remain winless in the T20 tournament.

Having chosen to bat, Hampshire’s openers Bouchier and Adams scored runs like a freight train – scoring boundaries at will as they bashed 60 in the powerplay.

Bouchier in particular, hammered the balls to all parts in a crunchy 44, to take her June run tally to 404 in six matches.

But Olivia Thomas almost single-handedly provided the buffers to slow Hampshire’s runaway start.

The leg-spinner, who missed the early part of the season with an ankle injury, caught and bowled Bouchier with her first ball, and then had Adams lbw with the second ball of her second over.

Those two overs went for just seven runs and while it didn’t completely swing the momentum, it pulled the hosts away from looking like easing to 200 to a more competitive battle.

While Abi Norgrove anchored the innings, regular wickets after brief cameos made Hampshire set their sights closer to 170 – helped by three drops.

Along with Thomas’ two for 28, Australian Jess Jonassen grabbed two for 30 with her wily spin, although Nancy Harman thumped 27 off 14 to take the hosts to 174.

Yorkshire’s response spluttered as Adams, Naomi Dattani, and birthday girl Tyson all grabbed top-order wickets in the powerplay.

Amanda-Jade Wellington lured compatriot Jonassen into plinking to mid off as the chase couldn’t find first gear.

Lauren Winfield-Hill was the visitors’ last real hope with the bat, and ticked along nicely for 39 but a top edge to short fine off Adams, with 87 runs still needed, ended the contest.

Tyson bowled Alice Clarke – having looked tidy for 34 – and Poppy Tulloch bowled Rebecca Duckworth for a deserved scalp as Yorkshire ended up 42 runs shy of their target.

Hampshire Hawks batter Abi Norgrove: "We are always developing our T20 cricket as a team, so that was a good win as a team. Flipping back from 50-overs to T20s is tough so was good to get the two wins on the bounce.

"Bouchier and Adams' innings was great to watch, especially sitting there waiting to come in at three. They are a great combo. Having a powerplay like that takes the pressure off. It was a platform and allowed me to have clarity on my options.

"We have a floating order so we are all developing different strengths in different areas. It has been good to bat down the order but it has been exciting batting at three. I am enjoying it. It is more balls faced but that equals pressure - and I'm happy to take on that pressure.

"We are pretty happy with where we are in the T20s. We will keep pushing and see where it goes."

Yorkshire batter Alice Clarke: "It’s a tough one. Lauren (Winfield-Hill) has just spoken really well in the changing rooms there, saying that we’re better than what we’re showing at the minute.

“I thought Liv Thomas coming in when they were going at nines quite comfortably and bowling two overs for seven and taking two wickets, I’m really pleased for her to show everyone what she can do after what’s been a tough couple of months.

“The batting, we’ve got so much talent. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but I can see it. But, having said that, this group has got a long way to go and it was disappointing we couldn’t get over the line there.

“They got off to a bit of a flyer, but the way we dug deep and fought back shows what we have in us. That belief is something we’re going to have to keep going with.

“I’d have liked to have gone a bit quicker (with the bat). I was a bit slow at the start. The aim is to win, and I suppose coming off with a run-a-ball 30 is not where you want to be in a T20. I didn’t find the middle of the bat as much as I’d like, but it’s all experience for me.”