The Blaze v Hampshire Women

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Hampshire 194-3 v Blaze

Charley Phillips with another impressive over, hitting the straight blockhole effectively with straight drives not beating mid on.

Just three off the last.

Blaze showing why they are the best side in the country in the women's game.

50 for Freya Kemp

Hampshire 191-3 v Blaze

It feels like Freya Kemp has been in the 40s for eons.

Hampshire stalling since Ella McCaughan went.

They still have decent batting options to come, so might not want to rebuild for too long prolonging the latter over assault.

Most aggressive cross-batted shots going straight to fielders, not the boundary of late, but the last ball of the over she gets there off 41 balls, with a sweep for four.

Should have been run out on 38 remember, how costly will that be?

Dropped catch

Hampshire 181-3 v Blaze

Spin back into the attack for the Blaze.

Kirstie Gordon for her seventh over, having gone for just 12 off her first six, a particularly impressive, mean, miserly spell.

Freya Kemp getting cramped and frustrated a little by good bowling and field-setting.

Rhianna Southby gets the strike and gets away with one on eight off 11.

An easy caught and bowled to Gordon who just misjudges and rather than follow through straight to catch it, falls right and shells it.

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Hampshire 177-3 v Blaze

Slight ground delay as the boundary cushions are rearranged.

Wind whipping around the Bowl causing extra work for anyone in the vicinity!

A legside wide from Grace Ballinger as she gets too greedy, next ball should have been hit for four, but the half-volley on leg stump was hit straight to a fielder by Freya Kemp.

WICKET

McCaughan lbw Ballinger 78 (Hampshire 166-3 v Blaze)

Just as I was looking up when Ella McCaughan scored her last hundred, that I poorly do not know off the top of my head.

78 off 97 balls and she tries to work a straight ball through the legside, almost going to sweep/scoop/flick a ball she felt was more legside than it was.

Maybe premeditating a pace off ball she thought could play like a spinner?

Great knock nonetheless, set her side up perfectly.

Missed run out

Hampshire 166-2 v Blaze

Having just been haring around the boundary to save one, Grace Ballinger then has to come back on to bowl her seventh over.

But she really should have run out Freya Kemp first ball.

She does not gather cleanly and the Hants pair I had just written had been running so well, get away with a cheeky two that should not have been!

Of course next ball after there should have been a wicket, there is four.

Ballinger's changes of pace earn her a few dots.

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Hampshire 160-2 v Blaze

Kathryn Bryce is taken for three by Freya Kemp first ball of her second over.

Ella McCaughan then gives her the strike back next ball with a single.

A couple of dots and then great fielding by Grace Ballinger saves another one to have a second three of the over for Freya Kemp.

Both seriously fit, professional athletes.

Good job they have been playing together since Sussex u11s to have this perfect understanding for running hard between the wickets!

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Hampshire 139-2 v Blaze

Ella McCaughan (61*) had not passed 50 in her previous 10 professional innings, 40 v the opposition at the same ground her highest score in that run.

Maybe the best opposition, the best side she has faced in recent months particularly gets her going, some players just perform best against the best!

She would do well to bat through here whilst her best mate Freya Kemp can provide the acceleration.

Kemp does exactly that, finishing the over with a six off Orla Prendergast.

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Hampshire 128-2 v Blaze

Freya Kemp is starting to motor, one particular four in this latest over really smashed to the rope.

Without her usual Somerset middle-order finishing teammate Dani Gibson in the England middle-order, she comes in a little earlier for her county, but absolutely loves batting with Ella McCaughan.

Remember these two batting together have been mates who used to go round to each other's family homes from a young age, growing up through county academy cricket together.

'Kemp has always got itchy feet'

Hampshire 128-2 v Blaze

Isabelle Duncan

BBC Test Match Special

Kemp is going a bit ballistic out there. She’s looking to get on with it - she’s always got itchy feet.

It's that belligerent style by Kemp, she’s looking dangerous. Lucy Higham will be trying to rein it in.

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Hampshire 119-2 v Blaze

Your reporter's father trained at St Luke's together with Ella McCaughan's Dad 30+ years ago and am pleased to say I have just received a delighted text from proud parents as their 23-year-old passed a crucial final 50, with many more to come so they desire.

After her injury last summer, and a bit of a struggle for form this season, great to see the talented England A bat in the runs.

She watches Freya Kemp emphatically pull for four first ball after drinks, then nearly is run out with a mix up second ball!

Next ball the calling is far clearer.

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Hampshire 108-2 v Blaze

Orla Prendergast sends down her third over and it goes for seven runs, which is very welcome for Hampshire after becoming a little bogged down lately.

Freya Kemp capitalises on an overpitched delivery, punching it straight back past the bowler and into the boundary rope to move on to five, while Ella McCaughan has 57.

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