Kemp’s Maiden Ton Powers Hampshire to Commanding Win Over The Blaze

Freya Kemp’s stunning maiden century propelled Hampshire to a dominant 80-run victory over The Blaze in the Metro Bank Women’s One-Day Cup, reclaiming top position on the points table in emphatic fashion.

Kemp produced a career-best 109 off 92 balls, rescuing Hampshire from early trouble at 34 for 3 and forming a match-defining 136-run partnership with Nancy Harman, who also recorded a personal best of 77. Their efforts lifted Hampshire to 291 for 7 – a total that proved far out of reach for a faltering Blaze batting lineup.

The Blaze’s chase never fully recovered from a poor start, and despite a valiant 87 from Georgia Elwiss, they were bowled out for 211. Daisy Gibb (3 for 21) and Australian star Ellyse Perry (3 for 40), playing her final match for Hampshire, ensured the visitors fell well short.

Early Collapse and Kemp's Heroics

After choosing to bat, Hampshire suffered a nightmare opening spell from former home player Cassidy McCarthy, who removed Rhianna Southby, Maia Bouchier, and Perry in a fiery opening burst, finishing with 3 for 17 in her first 10 overs.

With the top order in tatters, Kemp joined skipper Georgia Adams and began the rebuild. The pair added 80 before Adams was stumped by Sarah Bryce, and Elwiss quickly struck again to remove Abi Norgrove lbw.

That brought Harman to the crease, and from there, Kemp shifted gears. Reaching her half-century in 48 balls, she continued to find boundaries with increasing ease, eventually bringing up her maiden century in 86 deliveries with consecutive sixes. The duo added 136 runs before Kemp fell in the 47th over, having guided Hampshire to a commanding position.

Harman kept the momentum going with Linsey Smith, ensuring the final 22 balls yielded 36 runs, leaving The Blaze chasing a formidable total.

Gibb and Perry Seal the Deal

Hampshire struck early with the ball, as Gibb removed both Blaze openers inside the first five overs. Marie Kelly found point, while Georgie Boyce hit a loose shot to extra cover.

A brief Blaze recovery came via Kathryn Bryce and Elwiss, who stitched together a 98-run stand. Elwiss brought up her fifty in 53 balls and appeared poised to challenge the total, but once Bryce was dismissed and Sarah Bryce fell shortly after, the innings unraveled.

Elwiss’s resistance ended on 87 when she was bowled by Bex Tyson, and Perry returned to clean up the tail, claiming three wickets including Kirstie Gordon and Josie Groves.

Linsey Smith wrapped up the match with the dismissal of McCarthy, sealing an emphatic win with more than five overs to spare.

Turning Point

Kemp’s counter-attacking innings, backed by Harman’s stability, turned the game on its head after Hampshire’s early collapse. Gibb and Perry’s incisive spells then ensured there was no path back for The Blaze.

The result ends a tough few days for The Blaze, who were also eliminated from the Women’s Vitality Blast on Sunday.