Thrilling contest goes down to the final ball

Freya Kemp registered a superb unbeaten half century as Hampshire carved out a hard-fought five-run victory over Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground to return to winning ways in the Vitality Blast T20 women's competition last Thursday.

- Andrew Stockhausen

Hampshire elected to bat on a sound Taunton track and internationals Maia Bouchier and Charli Knott staged an enterprising opening partnership of 80 in 9.1 overs, scoring 43 apiece as bat dominated ball. Kemp then built upon solid foundations, raising a forthright 65 not out from 38 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes to propel the visitors to 169-6.

Required to score at 8.5 an over, Somerset were bolstered by Niamh Holland’s superb career-best T20 innings of 60 from 53 balls. She struck six fours and two sixes, shared in stands of 52 and 63 with Sophie Luff and Amanda-Jade Wellington for the third and fourth wickets respectively and helped set-up a tense finale.