Maia Bouchier fifty leads Hampshire to victory against Lancashire

Hampshire cruised to an eight-wicket victory against struggling Lancashire Thunder with opening batter Maia Bouchier scoring an unbeaten 74 at a windy Blackpool.

Together with Hampshire skipper Georgia Adams, Bouchier, who was overlooked by England selectors for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, they put on a second-wicket partnership of 114 runs to win.

Australian star Meg Lanning had earlier scored 64 but her efforts were in vain as the hosts slumped to their fifth defeat from the opening six games with Hampshire registering their third win of the competition.

Hampshire got off to a brilliant start with former Lancashire player Naomi Dattani bowling Eve Jones with the third ball of the opening over before skipper Adams accounted for Tilly Kesteven the same way with her first ball to leave the hosts 23 for 2.

Dattani struck with the first ball after the game resumed, bowling Grace Johnson for two, as the heavens opened in the fifth over and took the players off the field for just over an hour. Lancashire needed a partnership and they got one between captain Ellie Threlkeld and the in-form Lanning who counter-attacked in style with repeated sweeps and some energetic running.

With five boundaries and a towering six, Lanning made her half-century in 41 balls before top-edgeing a Bex Tyson delivery to wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby to end the partnership on 80.

Danielle Collins was out first ball, caught in the deep off Amanda-Jade Wellington, but Threlkeld saw her side through to the final over before she was bowled by Poppy Tulloch for 45 with Fi Morris departing off the last ball of the innings.

Grace Potts struck with her first ball to remove Ella McCaughan, who was bowled without scoring, but Bouchier took the game to Lancashire, hitting Kate Cross for 10 in the first over. With the skipper on five, Cross had Adams dropped in the deep by Johnson, which cost the second-wicket partnership the chance to win the game.

As the visitors eased their way to the target in the 16th over against a demoralized-looking Lancashire, Bouchier's half-century came off 37 balls with one six and six fours. The winning runs came shortly after Adams was run out for 48.