Warwickshire Women fall short against Hampshire
The brilliance of New Zealand star Suzie Bates sentenced Warwickshire to a 93-run defeat to Hampshire in their Royal London Women’s County Championship match at Basingstoke.
After the previous day’s tie in their season-opener against Somerset at Nailsea, the Bears suffered at the hands of Bates who smashed 148 from 146 balls with two sixes and 15 fours.
Also a basketball international who represented her country at that sport at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Bates totally dominated the Hampshire innings. Former England captain Charlotte Edwards contributed 34 to a sixth-wicket stand of 75 but nobody else reached 20.
Anisha Patel took two for 38 for the Bears while Jenny Gunn imposed some control with one for 29 in ten overs and there was a wicket apiece for Katie Green and Georgia Davis.
In reply, Warwickshire were in the hunt while third-wicket pair Thea Brookes (70 not out, 82 balls) and Marie Kelly (34, 54 balls) were together. They added 51 for the third wicket but Kelly’s departure sent the innings into a steep downward spiral with the bottom six in the order scoring just 14 between them.
* The Bears will aim to bounce back next Sunday when they play their first home game of the season, against Yorkshire at Portland Road.