George and Bates bat Hants to victory against Notts

They say that good teams make their own luck. Hampshire had their fair share of it today as they won by 6 wickets against Nottinghamshire at Welbeck today. Fifties from Katie George and Suzie Bates helped Hampshire’s cause.

Nottinghamshire had an outside chance of winning the Royal London One-Day Cup this morning. Only if Kent failed to beat Lancashire. Sonia Odedra lost the toss and Notts were asked to bat first.

It worked for Notts yesterday when they beat Surrey but today was a different day. Sarah Bryce who scored a fifty yesterday but today as she was lbw to George for just 4.

Lucy Higham and Teresa Graves were both dismissed in a similar fashion as they took the attack FI Morris. Morris bowled a number of full tosses and half volleys that instead of racing to the boundary we safely pouched by George at mid-on. The catch to dismiss Higham the pick of them.

Odedra and Jenny Gunn set about the rebuilding job. They added 46 for the fourth wicket before like the previous two wickets George at Mid-on took the catch, Charlie Dean, the bowler.

With pace off the ball and two interruptions to play because of rain before the end of the fifth over scoring wasn’t easy. Hampshire fielded well and was one of the main differences between the two sides today.

Gunn and Yvonne Graves were the last two Notts batters to get started. Had Graves not been run out when a Charlotte Taylor delivery was hit straight back at the bowler and diverted onto the stumps. It wasn’t the only time that this happened as Hannah Hughes was also run out by Alice Monaghan for 2.

62 not out from Gunn was Notts highest score from 89 balls. With England starting a series against West Indies in the next two weeks it may be the last they see of Gunn. She was determined to make it count.

Notts were bowled out for 176 with an over of their allotted overs left.

Hampshire got off to the worst possible start losing Dean for 5 caught at slip by Polly Inglis off the bowling of Sophie Munro.

Maia Bouchier and George added 41 for the second wicket. Bouchier was the first of two wickets for Kirstie Gordon who had the opener stumped by Bryce. Fi Morris was then caught behind by Bryce shortly after for a duck.

Notts had opportunities to run players out early on, such was their luck none were taken. Worse for Notts bad luck is watching Suzie Bates stroll out to bat at five. Along with George Bates was watchful at first. With the run-rate never getting above four an over they were content to rotate the strike.

George was the top scorer with 80 and with only eight runs to win George tried to hit Rebecca Widdowson only for Gordon to take a simple catch.

Bates was content to play second fiddle at times her 63 not out coming from 84 balls. With the end in sight, Bates did open the blade of her bat with two fours in a row off Widdowson.

Emily Windsor hit two fours, although, there was wait for the scoreboard to catch up. Once it did the win for Hampshire was confirmed.