Perrin knock books Bears' place at Finals Day

DAVINA Perrin once again demonstrated her exciting talent with 70 runs as Bears downed Hampshire Hawks and booked their place in the Vitality Blast Women's Finals Day.

- By ALEX SMITH

Teenager Perrin held Bears' innings together having been 41 for four in the powerplay to prove why she is the second top-scorer in the Women's Blast.

Her 70 in 48 balls set her side to 165, which Ellyse Perry threatened to ease to with an exceptional 58.

But the Hawks couldn't keep up with the rate and only managed 149 in their 20 overs to lose by 16 runs to send Bears to the showpiece event at the Kia Oval next Sunday.

Despite their premature exit from the competition, Hampshire have been drawing strong crowds for their double headers. Each of the four matches have seen at least 3,000 fans watch the women's fixture - with 3,251 spectators arriving for this clash.

Their reward was seeing future superstar Perrin in full flow.

She was the mainstay through the Bears' innings, with her persistence allowing an average score to become a defendable total at the death, having chosen to bat first.

While Perrin was tight and in control from the start, her top-order colleagues were not.