Women turn tables on Hampshire

ECB Women's County Championship (Division 3)

Hampshire Ladies 76 all out (35 overs, Kathryn White 4-15, Leigh Kasperek 3-2) lost to Cricket Scotland Wildcats 77-1 (28 overs, Charlotte Bascombe 21*, Kari Anderson 21*)

at Trojans CC on 4 May 2009

Having won the toss for the second day in a row, skipper Kari Anderson had no hesitation in putting Hampshire Ladies in to bat first again. The Wildcats made just one change to their line-up, calling in Paula Ritchie in an effort to bolster the previous day’s fragile batting line-up.

There was a much more chilly and overcast start to the day’s play, but an early strike by Kathryn White to dismiss Hampshire’s top-scorer from the previous day, J.Wilson, caught by keeper Charlotte Bascombe for just 6, helped keep the fielding side on the boil. An excellent piece of fielding in the deep from Leigh Kasperek also saw the Wildcats keeper run out Hampshire’s other opener, H.Clarke, for 4 to leave them 17 for 3.

Foghill steadied the ship with a quickfire 23 from just 28 balls, but none of the remaining batters were able to stay with her, White and Kasperek (pictured) this time being the pick of the Scotland bowlers with 4 and 3 wickets respectively. The Hampshire innings came to a close on 76, Kari Anderson picking up No.11 Parrott for 7 in the 35th over.

Changes to the Scotland batting line-up after lunch, however, were not required as openers White and Bascombe applied themselves far better than the previous day. White occupied the crease belligerently for 45 deliveries before being dismissed by a very useful delivery from left-armer Parrott for 5, with the score on 26. Remaining opener Bascombe (21* from 98 balls) and No 3 Anderson (21*  from 36 balls) saw the Wildcats home in the 28th over, securing a deserved victory after all the weekend’s efforts.

After the fixtures, Kari and Charlotte were in reflective mood when they commented: “This weekend’s matches have shown us that we can bowl teams out, can produce the goods in the field and, if we back ourselves and apply ourselves to the match situation, can more than hold our own in this division this season. With some of the younger players coming through and performing well, competition for places will keep the whole squad practicing and working hard, which is especially important with the Euros and T20 coming up this year.”