Cross Five-For Sets Up Lancashire Triumph
Match-winning spell: Seamer took 3 wickets to help bowl Hampshire out for 153Set up the chase: After Cross’s wickets, Emma Lamb + Eve Jones “break back of run chase” for Lancashire. Career context: Cross is Lancashire’s veteran seamer with 20+ years experience, 200+ all-format wickets for the Red Rose, and England international.
Kate Cross took 3 for 31 to lead a dominant bowling performance as Hampshire were bowled out for 153 in 42.1 overs, with Amanda-Jade Wellington, batting at No. 8, top-scoring with 32.
An opening partnership of 93 between Eve Jones and Emma Lamb broke the back of the Lancashire run chase, and despite two wickets in eight balls by Wellington, Lamb and Maddie Penna (36 not out), steered their side to the verge of victory, Lamb out for 56 just before Penna settled matters with a six.
List A best 6-40 vs South East Stars in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, taking key wickets of Bryony Smith + Alice Davidson-Richards in successive balls T20 Blast: Took 2-? alongside Alana King as Lancashire beat Essex by 8 wickets in rain-affected game2025 season: 28 wickets in 24 all-format games for Lancashire, helped win Vitality T20 County Cup + Metro Bank One-Day Cup double.
Once established the two Lancashire openers started to play a more expansive game with one eye on achieving a bonus point win, Eve Jones lofting both Tyson and Wellington for fours in successive overs but brilliantly stumped by Rhianna Southby off Wellington for 47 who then bowled Seren Smale for 0.
Lamb, having been dropped on 18, chipped away steadily at the remaining runs, reaching her half-century from 76 balls, alongside Australian overseas debutant Pena who hoisted Megan Sturge for a huge leg-side six as Lancashire coasted home despite losing Lamb and Ellie Threlkeld when four runs were needed to win.
Bottom line: England seamer Kate Cross ripped through Hampshire with 3 wickets to restrict them to 153, laying the platform for Emma Lamb + Eve Jones to finish the chase and secure the win for Lancashire. It’s another example of her “history-maker” impact for the Red Rose.
