Allround display and disciplined spin attack help Hawks defeat Essex by 23 runs

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Naomi Dattani produced a match-winning allround performance as Hampshire Hawks claimed their first Women’s Blast victory with a 23-run win over Essex.

Dattani top-scored with 31 before returning to strike twice with the ball, while Hampshire’s trio of spinners completely controlled the chase to seal the victory.

After choosing to bat first, Hampshire were repeatedly slowed down by an outstanding spell from Kate Coppack, whose superb 4 for 18 kept the hosts to a manageable total of 160.

Coppack set the tone early by removing Georgia Adams during a miserly powerplay spell that helped restrict Hampshire to just 35 runs in the first six overs. She later dismissed Francesca Sweet after a brisk cameo before striking twice again in the penultimate over to break a promising partnership between Rhianna Southby and Nancy Harman.

Although Hampshire never fully accelerated, useful contributions throughout the innings and late hitting from Amanda-Jade Wellington and Poppy Tulloch gave them momentum heading into the defence.

Essex, who had flown out of the blocks in their previous game, struggled badly in the powerplay this time, managing only 28 runs. Dattani struck twice in the fourth over to remove both openers and put the visitors immediately under pressure.

Cordelia Griffith and newly capped England allrounder Jodi Grewcock rebuilt with a 71-run stand, with Grewcock bringing up her third T20 half-century.

But Hampshire’s spin trio shut the game down brilliantly. Adams returned figures of 2 for 26, Wellington claimed 2 for 27, while Bex Tyson kept things tight with 1 for 21 as Essex faded in the second half of the chase.